The Big Tech Show The Irish woman at the top of AI's biggest company — OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar on AI doom, AI accounting and using Ireland as a growth base
Oct 20, 2026
Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s CFO and former Square CFO and Nextdoor CEO, discusses the company’s Irish ambitions. She explores 450 new jobs, Ireland as a potential data-centre hub, and the country’s role in OpenAI’s European expansion. The conversation also covers rogue AI agents, cybersecurity, soaring infrastructure costs, revenue growth, and the economics of building safer AI.
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Ireland’s ChatGPT Use Doubles In One Year
- Ireland has 2.5 million weekly ChatGPT users, more than double the previous year and roughly half of internet users.
- Lynda.ai helps dental practices recall overdue patients, prompting about 250 people to book appointments and filling schedules.
Ireland’s Next AI Jobs Will Enter Company Operations
- OpenAI sees Ireland as a strong AI base because of its educated, hardworking, technologically curious workforce.
- Its planned 200 hires emphasize forward-deployed engineers focused on semiconductor technology and cybersecurity.
Build Data Centers Around Community Needs
- Engage communities before building data centers instead of telling them what they need.
- OpenAI funded free school lunches in Savannah and gave Ohio students free Codex access as examples of community investment.