OpenAI acquired TBPN, an online technology talk show that has gained a loyal audience in Silicon Valley through interviews with CEOs of companies in the sector.
Entrepreneurs John Coogan and Jordi Hays, who founded TBPN in late 2024 with the aim of competing with industry heavyweights including CNBC, will join OpenAI as part of the deal.
The deal is surprising given that OpenAI has not previously indicated any plans to enter the news business and recently shelved its Sora video generation tool as part of efforts to focus on the AI programming tools market.
OpenAI, which did not reveal the financial details of the deal, said purchasing the program will help the company better communicate its plans and guide discourse around the changes AI creates.
The company stated that it will maintain TBPN’s editorial independence and drew parallels with other efforts of this type made by large technology companies over the years.
“This form is not new. Media has long been within larger companies, whether it’s ABC/CBS/NBC within large conglomerates, or Microsoft co-creating MSNBC, or Bloomberg News being owned by Bloomberg LP,” OpenAI said in a newsletter.
Continues after advertising
The talk show has already hosted guests including Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella, filmmaker James Cameron and OpenAI president Sam Altman.
