

Karen Hao
Reporter covering OpenAI and the AI industry. Author of the book Empire of AI.
Top 10 podcasts with Karen Hao
Ranked by the Snipd community

188 snips
May 22, 2025 • 52min
Sam Altman, OpenAI and the Future of Artificial (General) Intelligence
Karen Hao is a tech reporter known for her insights on AI and author of "Empire of AI." Keach Hagey, from The Wall Street Journal, dives into Altman's journey in "The Optimist." They discuss the meteoric rise of OpenAI post-ChatGPT and the complexities of its nonprofit to profit transition. The conversation explores Sam Altman's leadership, including the curious circumstances of his firing and reinstatement, and the critical implications for AGI. They highlight the need for ethical governance in AI amidst growing political and economic pressures.

139 snips
May 19, 2025 • 1h 7min
Empire of AI: Inside OpenAI’s Race to Conquer the Future | Karen Hao
Karen Hao, an award-winning journalist and author of 'Empire of AI,' shares her insight into OpenAI's evolution from an idealistic nonprofit to a major player in AI technology. She discusses the ethical implications of AI commercialization and the power struggles within the organization, especially after its partnership with Microsoft. Hao emphasizes the risk of a dystopian future driven by profit, urging society to scrutinize the power dynamics at play in Silicon Valley and engage in meaningful conversations around the responsibilities of AI development.

128 snips
Jun 12, 2025 • 51min
We All Suffer from OpenAI’s Pursuit of Scale w/ Karen Hao
Karen Hao, an award-winning journalist and author of *Empire of AI*, discusses the troubling impact of OpenAI's relentless pursuit of scale. She highlights how this strategy has led to exploitation, worsened data privacy issues, and environmental harm. The conversation delves into the commercialization of AI and its colonial legacy, critiquing the disconnect between OpenAI's founding ideals and current practices. Hao also emphasizes the risks of overemphasizing generative AI at the expense of other essential research areas, advocating for a more ethical approach to technology development.

122 snips
Jul 1, 2025 • 1h 29min
Downstream: Exposing The True Costs of AI w/ Karen Hao
Karen Hao, a tech reporter and author of 'Empire of AI', delves into the hidden costs of the AI industry. She explores the traumatic realities of content moderation and draws striking parallels between OpenAI's evolution and historical entities like the British East India Company. Hao discusses the ethical dilemmas faced by engineers turned advocates, emphasizing the need for transparency. The conversation touches on grassroots activism, encouraging communities to engage with major tech companies and democratize AI resources for societal benefits.

92 snips
May 14, 2025 • 52min
Empires of AI With Karen Hao
In this discussion, Karen Hao, author of *Empire of AI*, dives into the complex world of OpenAI and the implications of artificial general intelligence. She draws parallels between historical colonialism and current AI practices, highlighting transparency issues and labor exploitation. The conversation explores tech leadership's ambiguous persona and its impact on industry perceptions. Hao emphasizes the need to reconnect with broader societal issues beyond Silicon Valley, navigating the intricacies of covering the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

88 snips
Aug 31, 2023 • 46min
The AI ‘Race’: China vs. the US with Jeffrey Ding and Karen Hao
Jeffrey Ding, an academic researcher, and Karen Hao, a journalist, discuss the nuances of China's AI development, including advantages, limitations, and risks. They tackle topics such as China's surveillance and data collection edge, the relationship between Chinese companies and the government, concerns in AI development, challenges of coordination, and the complex AI competition between China and the US. They emphasize the importance of understanding China's progress and the potential for collaboration.

58 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 52min
Will AI Take My Job? with Karen Hao
Karen Hao, a reporter and author of Empire of AI, dives into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on society. She discusses the ethical responsibilities of tech companies and the need for collective action to protect workers, especially in light of recent labor strikes. The conversation also touches on AI's potential in promoting sustainability and the irony of data privacy sacrifices. Hao emphasizes the double-edged nature of AI in the job market, exploring its capacity to create opportunities while also threatening traditional employment.

49 snips
Sep 20, 2025 • 1h 10min
The chaos inside OpenAI – Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and existential risk explained _ Karen Hao
In this engaging conversation, journalist Karen Hao, who writes for The Atlantic, dives into the whirlwind events at OpenAI, particularly the dramatic firing and swift reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman. She explores the profound ideological rifts within the company, balancing commercialization with ethical concerns about AI. Karen sheds light on the intense emotions among OpenAI employees, who united in support of their leader during the chaos. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of governance challenges in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

39 snips
Sep 4, 2025 • 2h 45min
IM 835: Glitch Lord - Inside OpenAI's Secret Struggles and the 'Empire of AI' With Karen Hao
Karen Hao, bestselling author of 'Empire of AI' and former senior editor at MIT Technology Review, dives into the tumultuous world of OpenAI. She reveals insights on internal conflicts, the shifting ambitions of leadership, and the commercialization of AI research. Delving into issues like the definition of AGI and the hype surrounding GPT-5, she critiques the AI industry's resource grabs and debates the implications of AI's rise on creativity and ethics. With engaging anecdotes, Karen showcases a landscape where AI’s trajectory is inconstant and requires vigilant scrutiny.

39 snips
May 23, 2025 • 38min
TBD | Inside OpenAI's Empire
Karen Hao, a reporter and author of "Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI", dives into the transformative journey of OpenAI, revealing how it evolved from a nonprofit focused on safe AI to a competitive powerhouse chasing artificial general intelligence. She discusses the organization's culture of secrecy, the chaotic dynamics during its transition to for-profit, and the unexpected rise of ChatGPT, which drastically altered its trajectory. Karen also highlights internal power struggles and the implications of corporate control on society.