The online talk show will reportedly maintain editorial independence but will also assist with OpenAI communications and marketing.
OpenAI has acquired TBPN, the popular online talk show known for interviewing AI executives and tech leaders. The show, which airs live every weekday for around three hours, views channels like Bloomberg and CNBC as competitors. Past guests have included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and leaders from Meta, Microsoft, Palantir, and Andreessen Horowitz.
John Coogan, TBPN host, announced on X that the show will continue unchanged and expressed excitement about having more resources, stating that he has worked with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for over a decade, beginning when Altman funded his first company in 2013.
According to The Wall Street Journal, TBPN averages about 70,000 viewers per episode and generated over $5 million in advertising revenue this year, with expectations to exceed $30 million in 2026.
OpenAI aims to “accelerate the global conversation around AI”, as outlined in a company blog post along with a memo from Fidji Simo, CEO of AGI deployment at OpenAI. Simo emphasized the need for a new approach to communication that facilitates real, constructive dialogue about AI’s impact, involving both creators and users.
The TBPN team will support OpenAI’s corporate communications and marketing while maintaining editorial independence in programming and guest selection. The team will operate within OpenAI’s Strategy organization, reporting to Chris Lehane, VP of global policy.
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