OpenAI has acquired the tech industry talk show TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network), TechCrunch reported on Wednesday.

It is the first time OpenAI has acquired a media company. TBPN will join the organisation under OpenAI Chief Political Officer Chris Lehane.

TBPN is hosted by former tech founders John Coogan and Jordi Hays. It covers tech, business, artificial intelligence and defence issues in a three-hour daily live show on YouTube and X. Tech company chief executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, Marc Benioff and Sam Altman, have also appeared to discuss issues of the day.

OpenAI said it will keep TBPN as an independent brand while supporting its expansion. The Wall Street Journal projected TBPN will generate more than $30 million in revenue this year. OpenAI also runs a conversational podcast centred on people inside the company.

Fidji Simo (피지 시모), OpenAI's head of AGI deployment, said it would also use the hosts' communications and marketing capabilities outside the show. Si

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on social media that TBPN is his favourite tech show and that criticism of OpenAI would not weaken after the acquisition.