OpenAI has completed its acquisition of TBPN, a Silicon Valley-based daily tech talk show, for a price reported to be in the low hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Fortune and Ars Technica. The podcast, launched in October 2024 by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, has built a dedicated audience of about 70,000 viewers per episode with a focus on AI, technology, and defense, per TheStreet.
The purchase represents OpenAI’s first media acquisition and signals an expansion beyond its AI software development roots into broadcasting, as detailed by TechCrunch and Ars Technica. Financially, TBPN generated roughly $5 million in revenue in 2025 and projects about $30 million for 2026, making it a rapidly growing platform for tech industry discourse, according to Fortune.
OpenAI stresses that TBPN will retain editorial independence under its new ownership, operating within OpenAI’s strategy department and reporting to communications lead Chris Lehane, as reported by Fast Company and TheStreet. This arrangement aims to preserve the authenticity and openness of the show while leveraging its role to improve industry communications and counteract negative AI narratives, notes Semafor.
The acquisition underscores OpenAI's intention to influence public perception and shape conversations about AI and technology at a moment when the industry faces increasing scrutiny, according to Semafor and Daring Fireball. TBPN’s format and audience position it as a strategic tool for OpenAI to engage more directly with tech founders, investors, and business leaders.
Moving forward, observers will watch how OpenAI balances its ownership with maintaining TBPN’s editorial voice, and how the show’s content evolves under this new relationship. The company’s investment could set a precedent for tech firms expanding into media to steer industry dialogue amid rapid technological change.
TBPN
Chris Lehane
Austin Hays
Fidji Simo
OpenAI
Steve Coogan
Sam Altman
