The Media Show Ronan Farrow on investigating OpenAI and Sam Altman, Misha Glenny, Bel Trew & Madhumita Murgia
Apr 8, 2026
Ronan Farrow, investigative journalist known for major probes into powerful institutions. Madhumita Murgia, FT AI editor covering tech accountability. Misha Glenny, journalist/author exploring geopolitics and tech history. Bel Trew, international correspondent reporting from conflict zones. They discuss the OpenAI/Sam Altman investigation, how insiders and documents were obtained, the concentration of technological power, and AI's role in shaping wartime narratives.
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Winning Tech Insiders With Deep Listening
- Farrow describes persuading AI insiders to share documents by listening to their business fears and motivations, which opened access to sensitive memos and Slack logs.
- He emphasizes deep listening unveiled materials like a co-founder memo and hundreds of pages about Dario Amodei.
Tech Titans Skip The Old Social Contract
- Farrow argues modern tech moguls feel fewer obligations toward public accountability compared with Gilded Age magnates, worsening transparency gaps.
- He notes acquisitions of critical media (e.g., podcasts) by tech firms reduce platforms for independent scrutiny.
Listen To Sources' Fears To Get Evidence
- Farrow recommends journalists listen sincerely to insiders' fears and incentives to unlock evidence rather than dismissing reluctance as obstruction.
- He used that approach to secure the core memo that triggered Altman's firing.