Foundering

Bloomberg
  • 4.5 (967)
  • TECH NEWS
  • SERIES
Foundering

Foundering is an award-winning, serialized podcast from the journalists at Bloomberg Technology. Each season, Foundering brings you inside a different high-stakes drama from the technology industry, where its companies are wielding unprecedented capital and power.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    OpenAI Part 1: The Most Silicon Valley Man Alive

    Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shot to tech stardom with the release of ChatGPT. His company is one of the most valuable startups in the world, and he is treated like an ambassador for the AI future, zipping around the globe, meeting with world leaders. But how did he amass so much power? In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet looks at Altman’s rise and his penchant for forming close bonds with powerful Silicon Valley figures, who in turn have lent their influence and money to his ever-growing ambitions.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    OpenAI Part2: Ilya Dreams of AGI

    OpenAI employees were motivated by the dream of building an artificial general intelligence, which could think and solve problems like a human mind. In reality, they sometimes spent their days building bots that played video games. But new research allowed the company to create increasingly powerful AI models, giving them a lead in the AI race. Meanwhile, a power struggle between Sam Altman and Elon Musk led to Musk’s departure from the company. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet takes a look at OpenAI’s early days and the company’s shift away from its promises to be open-source and nonprofit.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    OpenAI Part 3: Heaven and Hell, Part 1

    A group of high-level early employees who had glimpsed the fluidity and power of the technology behind ChatGPT left OpenAI to start a new company. Their exit sparked concerns that OpenAI is not prioritizing safety. Meanwhile, the success of ChatGPT drove a craze within the tech industry but also added fuel to existing apocalyptic fears. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet examines the frenzy around AI, both its utopic dreams and visions of impending doom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    OpenAI Part 4: Heaven and Hell, Part 2

    It’s widely predicted that AI will upend the economy and threaten many existing jobs. Sam Altman, in trying to stay ahead of public fears of mass unemployment, has offered universal basic income as a solution. He also has envisioned an AI future of abundance. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet looks at Altman’s proposals for ending poverty and his current relationship with his sister, Annie Altman, who struggles with homelessness in Hawaii. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    OpenAI Part 5: Beware the Ides of November

    Right as Sam Altman was at the peak of his success, touring the world to espouse the virtues of AI, his board turned on him. Altman was unceremoniously fired. OpenAI’s coup is a story of secrets, betrayal, employee revolt and Altman’s expert political maneuvering to regain his position of power. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet also examines Altman’s history of broken promises and alleged manipulation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    48 min
  6. Foundering: The OpenAI Story (Trailer)

    SEASON 5 TRAILER

    Foundering: The OpenAI Story (Trailer)

    The biggest story in tech is artificial intelligence, and the biggest story in AI is OpenAI. The company’s rapid progress and blazingly popular consumer products like ChatGPT have pushed tech giants to dump billions of dollars into an AI arms race. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has been dogged by persistent allegations of being manipulative, deceitful, and power hungry – even to the point of being fired by his own board. This season of Foundering takes listeners straight to the heart of the AI explosion: feuds, betrayals, billionaires, and the extinction of humanity…. maybe?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min
See All Season 5 (6)

Trailers

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Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
967 Ratings

About

Foundering is an award-winning, serialized podcast from the journalists at Bloomberg Technology. Each season, Foundering brings you inside a different high-stakes drama from the technology industry, where its companies are wielding unprecedented capital and power.

Information

  • Channel
    Bloomberg
  • Creator
    Bloomberg
  • Episodes
    182
  • Seasons
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    Foundering
  • Provider
    Bloomberg L.P.

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