OpenAI buys tech talkshow TBPN in push to shape AI narrative
TL;DR
OpenAI has acquired TBPN, a technology-focused daily talkshow popular among Silicon Valley insiders, as part of a broader push to shape public perception of AI. Hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays broadcast live for three hours daily from Los Angeles, featuring founders, venture capitalists, and tech leaders as guests. OpenAI strategy chief confirmed the deal, stating it will help the company engage the public on AI developments. The acquisition marks a significant step into media ownership for the AI lab.
Nauti's Take
Control the narrative, control the debate. OpenAI is buying itself a platform directly plugged into the tech elite – just as regulatory battles in the US are heating up.
This is not a content experiment; it is strategic narrative control. The question of whether TBPN stays independent is naive: no outlet remains unchanged when it is acquired by the subject of its own coverage.
Silicon Valley should know this by now.
Sources