Today, I’m talking with Hayden Field, The Verge’s senior AI reporter, about some pure Decoder bait: the seemingly-endless org chart changes at OpenAI, and how all of them seem to consolidate power under cofounder Greg Brockman, the company’s president.
While Sam Altman is the CEO and still OpenAI’s most public face, Brockman has amassed enormous power and influence within the top ranks of the company as other senior leaders have left in rapid succession. So I wanted Hayden to break down for me what’s going on at OpenAI, and the increasingly important role Greg Brockman will play in its future.
Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>It’s Greg Brockman’s OpenAI now | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/982774/greg-brockman-openai-role-expansion">The Verge</a></li>
 <li>OpenAI’s Brockman brushes off concerns about leadership changes | <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/openai-brockman-leadership-changes.html">CNBC</a></li>
 <li>Sam Altman on building OpenAI & betting on the impossible | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG8AoExkX40">David Senra</a></li>
 <li>OpenAI’s Q2 sales show tepid growth compared to Anthropic | <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openais-second-quarter-sales-show-tepid-growth-compared-with-anthropic-5cb42998">WSJ</a></li>
 <li>Anthropic's revenue run rate reportedly surpasses $65 billion pre-IPO | <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/anthropic-revenue-run-rate-ipo-openai">Axios</a></li>
 <li>OpenAI President On Reinventing Computers | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_44Ra8msls">Johanna Stern / YouTube</a></li>
 <li>Greg Brockman takes control of OpenAI’s products in latest shake-up | <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/openai-reorg-greg-brockman-product/">Wired</a></li>
 <li>OpenAI’s president is a Trump mega-donor | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/867947/openai-president-greg-brockman-trump-super-pac">The Verge</a></li>
</ul>

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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder is produced by Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.
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