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TBPN, an online tech show that frequently features talks with AI CEOs and other tech luminaries, has been acquired by OpenAI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, officials from Meta, Microsoft, Palantir, and Andreessen Horowitz, as well as competitors Bloomberg, CNBC, and Fox Business, have all previously appeared on the show, which airs live every weekday at 2 PM PT and typically lasts three hours.
Given that OpenAI had recently canceled its Sora video-generation tool in an effort to concentrate on the lucrative market for AI coding tools and had not previously signaled any plans to enter the news sector, the transaction seems unexpected.
OpenAI stated that the move would help better convey its intentions and steer the discourse around the changes AI brings, but it did not reveal the deal's financial terms.
According to Simo, OpenAI will preserve TBPN's "editorial independence," enabling the group to select its own guests and make its own editorial choices. "We're specifically protecting that as part of this agreement, and it's fundamental to their credibility," she wrote.
The deal was surprising because OpenAI had not previously shown any aspirations to enter the news industry and had recently shelved its Sora video-generation tool in an attempt to focus on the lucrative market for AI coding tools.
OpenAI would not disclose the terms of the arrangement, but it did say that the move would help better communicate its aims and drive the conversation surrounding the changes AI brings.
Simo claims that OpenAI would maintain TBPN's "editorial independence," allowing the organization to choose its own guests and make its own editorial decisions. "We're specifically protecting that as part of this agreement, and it's fundamental to their credibility," she wrote.
The transaction was unexpected because OpenAI had recently canceled its Sora video-generation tool in an effort to concentrate on the lucrative market for AI coding tools and had not previously expressed any desire to enter the news industry.
OpenAI stated that the move would help better express its goals and drive the discourse about the changes AI brings, but it would not reveal the specifics of the agreement.
According to Simo, OpenAI would preserve TBPN's "editorial independence," enabling the group to select its own guests and make its own editorial choices. "We're specifically protecting that as part of this agreement, and it's fundamental to their credibility," she wrote.
According to the Wall Street Journal, TBPN, which employs 11 people, launched its chat show livestream in March 2025 and has an average of 70,000 viewers per episode across all channels. According to TBPN, it made over $5 million in ad income in 2025 and is profitable. It also says it was on course to achieve over $30 million in revenue in 2026.
TBPN will report to Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer, and be headquartered within OpenAI's strategy division. "Over the past year, we've had a front-row seat not just to OpenAI, but to the entire ecosystem, covering the daily news, announcements, and launches in real time," said Jordi Hays, co-founder and co-host of TBPN, in a statement. Even though we have occasionally criticized the industry, after getting to know Sam and the OpenAI team, what really stuck out was their dedication to getting this right and openness to criticism. We think it's crucial to move from discussion to actual impact on how this technology is used and perceived around the world.
The other host of TBPN, John Coogan, commented on X, "This is a full circle moment for me as I've worked with [Sam Altman] for well over a decade." In 2013, Altman provided funding for Coogan's first business. According to Coogan, Altman "was the very first [AI] lab lead to join the show" last year. "I want to thank everyone who has participated in TBPN thus far. The past year has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling period of my career, and we are thrilled to have more resources than ever in the future.
Hays and Coogan host TBPN's live tech chat show, which airs every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT. The program can be found on X (Twitter), YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, LinkedIn, Substack and Instagram.
OpenAI stated that TBPN will be placed within its strategy division, although it did not reveal the terms of the agreement.
"After getting to know Sam and the OpenAI team, what stood out most was their openness to feedback and commitment to getting this right," Hays said in a statement. "We've been critical of the industry at times." “We think it's crucial to move from commentary to actual impact in how this technology is distributed and understood globally.”
With just 58,000 YouTube subscribers, TBPN is still very new, having only begun streaming in 2025. However, fintech firms Ramp and Plaid, Google's Gemini, and the New York Stock Exchange have previously sponsored the channel.
