Once envisioned as a nonprofit dedicated to advancing AI for the benefit of humanity, OpenAI has since become one of the most powerful—and controversial—companies in the world. This week, Elisa Poteat sits down with Karen Hao, author of Empire AI, to examine how ambition, secrecy, and competition reshaped the organization’s mission. From the erosion of trust and safety standards to the looming energy costs of AI’s expansion, they explore what OpenAI’s story reveals about the future of artificial intelligence and the global race for dominance.

Karen Hao is a bestselling author and award-winning reporter covering artificial intelligence.

References:

• Hao, Karen. Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI. Penguin Press, 2025
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