In today's Digest we look at OpenAI's purchase of TBPN, CNN developing its own agentic infrastructure in preparation for AI-driven media transactions, and Elon Musk's alleged attempts to make banks associated with the SpaceX IPO subscribe to Grok.

OpenAI acquires TBPN

OpenAI has made its first foray into media ownership with the acquisition of the popular tech and business talk show, TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network). Hosted by former tech founders John Coogan and Jordi Hays, the daily three-hour live programme broadcasts across YouTube and X, covering tech, AI, and defence. Notably, the TBPN team will report directly to OpenAI’s chief political operative, Chris Lehane, signalling a strategic communications shift for the AI giant.

CNN building in-house agentic infrastructure

CNN is building out an agentic infrastructure as it prepares to begin transacting media through a new trading model in the first quarter of 2027. Faisal Karmali, CNN's international commercial VP of business operations, said that the company expects to have finished scoping agentic tools by the end of June. Testing will begin in Q3. The publisher is working with the IAB Tech Lab and its Agentic Real Time Framework as it develops the infrastructure.

SpaceX mandates Grok

In a unique leveraging of his wider business ecosystem, Elon Musk is reportedly requiring banks and advisers working on the upcoming SpaceX IPO to subscribe to his AI chatbot, Grok. According to the New York Times, several major banks have already agreed to commit tens of millions of dollars annually to the xAI service. These institutions have reportedly already begun integrating the tool into their internal IT infrastructure.