Katie Deighton, reporting for The Wall Street Journal (main link is a gift link; also on News+):
OpenAI bought TBPN to encourage constructive conversation around
the changes AI creates by helping the show grow, according to a
memo sent by Fidji Simo, the OpenAI’s CEO of applications. TBPN
will report to Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs
officer, and will help with company communications and marketing
outside of the show.“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,” Simo wrote in the memo.But TBPN will remain editorially independent, retaining control
over its programming, editorial decisions, guest selection and
production schedule, OpenAI said.
Yes, I’m sure they’ll remain totally independent. You know, like The Washington Post under Jeff Bezos, and CBS News under David Ellison. Many news and commentary publications have remained steadfastly independent while reporting to the head of PR for a company they ostensibly cover.
