OpenAI nabs key Patreon execs ahead of upcoming announcement

OpenAI now has the team behind the modern creator-subscription economy. OpenAI now has the team behind the modern creator-subscription economy. OpenAI has hired three former Patreon execs to anchor its product strategy for creators. After starting the creator subscription platform 13 years ago, co-founder and technology chiefSam Yam announced on Xthat he’s joining OpenAI to lead Creator Product. He’s also bringing Patreon’s former product headDrew Rownyand engineering headShannon Mawith him on the new venture, both of whom stepped down in the past few weeks. “We’re going to build together with Creators at OpenAI and share early access to a new set of tools that I think will be critically valuable to Creators and their communities,” Yam said in his announcement. “Pay attention to OpenAI DevDay next week! I’m becoming active today (and experimenting with some innovative early tools here!)” Dev Dayis set for Tuesday, September 29th, though Yam also links toa post from OpenAI CEO Sam Altmanthat teases another big announcement will be coming this week. Bringing key Patreon execs on board suggests that OpenAI is exploring ways to enter the creator monetization business, given Patreon effectively set the blueprint for the creator-subscription economy as we know it. Losing Yam is another blow for Patreon, which recently announced anextensive update roadmapto overhaul its user features after laying off20 percent of its staffin January. A free daily digest of the news that matters most. This is the title for the native ad