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The Explanation
The Media Show: Investigating Sam Altman
The Explanation
Apr 9, 2026

Ronan Farrow, perhaps the world’s most prominent investigative journalist, has turned his attention to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The investigation, published by The New Yorker, draws on more than a year of reporting. Farrow outlines how it was conducted and the questions it raises about power and influence in AI. Madhumita Murgia, AI Editor at the Financial Times, gives her analysis of the issues at the heart of the report, including how the media covers leading figures in Silicon Valley. Also on the show, Misha Glenny discusses his podcast The Race to Control the World, as well as his role as the new presenter of In Our Time.

Production team credits: Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Content Producer: Lucy Wai Assistant Producer: Emily Channon Researcher: Ruth Waites Technical Coordinator: Mark Dickins Sound: Pat Sissons

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Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Content producer: Lucy Wai Sound engineer: Mark Pickett


22min 59sec


The Media Show: Investigating Sam Altman

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