OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has acquired Technology Business Programming Network (TBPN), a fast-growing tech media platform, as part of a broader effort to shape global conversations around artificial intelligence.
Announcing the deal, reported to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars by the FT, Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s chief of strategy, said the move brings in “a team with strong editorial instincts, deep audience understanding, and a proven ability to convene influential voices across tech, business, and culture.”
TBPN, a daily live tech talk show focused on AI and the builder ecosystem, has emerged as a key platform for industry discussion. “It’s one of the places where the conversation about AI and builders is actually happening day to day,” Simo said. “A lot of you already watch it, and rely on it to stay close to what’s going on.”
OpenAI said the acquisition reflects the company’s evolving approach to communications as AI adoption accelerates. “As I’ve been thinking about the future of how we communicate at OpenAI, one thing that’s become clear is that the standard communications playbook just doesn’t apply to us,” Simo said. “We’re not a typical company. We’re driving a really big technological shift.”
She added that OpenAI sees a responsibility to foster broader engagement around AI’s impact: “And with our mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity comes a responsibility to help create a space for a real, constructive conversation about the changes AI creates – with builders and people using the technology at the centre.”
Rather than developing a platform internally, OpenAI opted to integrate TBPN while maintaining its editorial approach. “That’s what TBPN has built. So rather than trying to recreate that ourselves, it made a lot of sense to bring them in, support what they’re doing, and help them scale – while keeping what makes them special,” Simo said.
A key component of the deal is preserving TBPN’s editorial independence. “TBPN will continue to run their programming, choose their guests, and make their own editorial decisions. That’s foundational to their credibility, and it’s something we’re explicitly protecting as part of this agreement,” she said.
Simo also pointed to TBPN’s commercial and audience development capabilities as a strategic asset. “They’ve helped many brands market online and because they have a strong pulse on where the industry is going, their comms and marketing ideas have really impressed me,” she said. “I can’t wait to leverage their talent outside of the show to innovate on how we bring AI to the world in a way that helps people understand the full impact of this technology on their daily lives.”
TBPN will be integrated into OpenAI’s strategy organisation and report to Chris Lehane. The company is bringing on TBPN co-founders Jordi Hays and John Coogan, along with President Dylan Abruscato and the broader team.
In a statement, TBPN co-founder Jordi Hays said the company sees the move as an opportunity to expand its impact beyond commentary. “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,” he said. “While we’ve been critical of the industry at times, after getting to know Sam and the OpenAI team, what stood out most was their openness to feedback and commitment to getting this right.”
“Moving from commentary to real impact in how this technology is distributed and understood globally is incredibly important to us,” Hays added.
Founded by Hays and Coogan, TBPN has rapidly built an audience across platforms including X, YouTube, Spotify, and LinkedIn, with programming centred on developments in technology and AI. The New York Times recently described it as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession”. Its style of commentary has also been described as a tech version of ESPN’s iconic Sportscenter.
