Tech journalist Karen Hao, who's been covering OpenAI since 2019, paints a surprising picture of the company in this podcast. She describes its explosive growth as akin to building a "new form of empire," revealing a stark contrast between its polished public image (a transparent, do-gooder nonprofit) and the reality she witnessed behind the scenes.

Editor’s Note: OpenAI’s rise has been meteoric, but this insider perspective suggests there might be cracks in the facade. If a company shaping the future of AI isn’t what it claims to be, that’s a big deal—it could impact everything from how AI is regulated to who actually benefits from its power. This isn’t just corporate gossip; it’s about accountability in an industry that’s changing the world.