Karen Hao
@karenhao.bsky.social
NYT bestselling author of EMPIRE OF AI: empireofai.com. ai reporter. national magazine award & american humanist media award winner. words in The Atlantic. formerly WSJ, MIT Tech Review, KSJ@MIT. email: http://karendhao.com/contact.
Pinned
Karen Hao
@karenhao.bsky.social
· Apr 4
Sam Altman isn't keen on you reading my book. EMPIRE OF AI is based on 300+ interviews, 7 yrs covering AI, and my time as the first reporter who got extensive access to OpenAI. I sought OpenAI's perspective throughout. For months they said it was coming. It never did. Pre-order here: empireofai.com.
First spotting of the Spanish edition of EMPIRE OF AI — EL IMPERIO DE IA — in the wild 😍😍
Happy Spanish edition pub week to me 🥳🥳🥳
Happy Spanish edition pub week to me 🥳🥳🥳
Libro recibido: El imperio de la IA. Sam Altman y su carrera por dominar al mundo, de Karen Hao @karenhao.bsky.social
Gentileza: #EdicionesPenínsula
#ElImperioDeLaIA #EmpireOfAI #KarenHao #SamAltman #OpenAI
www.planetadelibros.com/libro-el-imp...
Gentileza: #EdicionesPenínsula
#ElImperioDeLaIA #EmpireOfAI #KarenHao #SamAltman #OpenAI
www.planetadelibros.com/libro-el-imp...
November 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
First spotting of the Spanish edition of EMPIRE OF AI — EL IMPERIO DE IA — in the wild 😍😍
Happy Spanish edition pub week to me 🥳🥳🥳
Happy Spanish edition pub week to me 🥳🥳🥳
Spending a week in Kuala Lumpur at the @gijn.org conference with more than 1,500 of the world's badass investigative journalists is one of the most energizing things in the world. ❤️
November 21, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Spending a week in Kuala Lumpur at the @gijn.org conference with more than 1,500 of the world's badass investigative journalists is one of the most energizing things in the world. ❤️
"I feel much more connected to my students after having engaged with them on this book and reading their journals...I have not felt this energy in a classroom since 2022."
I love this so much 🥹
I love this so much 🥹
We're back! Today in The Important Work, Helen Choi and Vance Ricks write about assigning @karenhao.bsky.social's Empire of AI to their students in courses where they had not previously assigned books--and how it went. theimportantwork.substack.com/p/we-made-ou...
We made our students read a book!
And we'd do it again
theimportantwork.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:17 AM
"I feel much more connected to my students after having engaged with them on this book and reading their journals...I have not felt this energy in a classroom since 2022."
I love this so much 🥹
I love this so much 🥹
It was such a joy and privilege to launch the first foreign language edition of EMPIRE OF AI in Hungary 🇭🇺 this week. A new milestone 🥹
Thank you to my Hungarian publisher HVG for making it such a memorable experience.
12 more foreign language editions underway. Next up: Español! 🥳
Thank you to my Hungarian publisher HVG for making it such a memorable experience.
12 more foreign language editions underway. Next up: Español! 🥳
November 13, 2025 at 11:39 AM
It was such a joy and privilege to launch the first foreign language edition of EMPIRE OF AI in Hungary 🇭🇺 this week. A new milestone 🥹
Thank you to my Hungarian publisher HVG for making it such a memorable experience.
12 more foreign language editions underway. Next up: Español! 🥳
Thank you to my Hungarian publisher HVG for making it such a memorable experience.
12 more foreign language editions underway. Next up: Español! 🥳
EMPIRE OF AI has been shortlisted for the Foyles Book of the Year 😍
Really loved popping by their gorgeous London flagship bookstore earlier this year, so this is a special delight!
Check out the rest of the list here: foyles.co.uk/highlights/f...
Really loved popping by their gorgeous London flagship bookstore earlier this year, so this is a special delight!
Check out the rest of the list here: foyles.co.uk/highlights/f...
October 31, 2025 at 3:16 PM
EMPIRE OF AI has been shortlisted for the Foyles Book of the Year 😍
Really loved popping by their gorgeous London flagship bookstore earlier this year, so this is a special delight!
Check out the rest of the list here: foyles.co.uk/highlights/f...
Really loved popping by their gorgeous London flagship bookstore earlier this year, so this is a special delight!
Check out the rest of the list here: foyles.co.uk/highlights/f...
This is an incredible effort among Amazon employees to pressure their employer:
"We believe that the all-costs-justified, warp-speed approach to AI development will do staggering damage to democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth."
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
"We believe that the all-costs-justified, warp-speed approach to AI development will do staggering damage to democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth."
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
AI Open Letter — AECJ
Sign our open letter below to tell Amazon leadership that we need a more responsible rollout of AI. Every single signature makes our message stronger.
www.amazonclimatejustice.org
October 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
This is an incredible effort among Amazon employees to pressure their employer:
"We believe that the all-costs-justified, warp-speed approach to AI development will do staggering damage to democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth."
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
"We believe that the all-costs-justified, warp-speed approach to AI development will do staggering damage to democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth."
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
Reposted by Karen Hao
In a sold-out talk at the Graduate Center, @karenhao.bsky.social, the author of "Empire of AI," questioned the nirvana notions of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others in Silicon Valley who are racing to create an artificial general intelligence model
Author Karen Hao Unmasks OpenAI's Altruistic Facade
In a sold-out talk at the Graduate Center, the author of "Empire of AI" questioned the nirvana notions of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others in Silicon Valley who are racing to create an artificial…
www.gc.cuny.edu
October 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
In a sold-out talk at the Graduate Center, @karenhao.bsky.social, the author of "Empire of AI," questioned the nirvana notions of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others in Silicon Valley who are racing to create an artificial general intelligence model
EMPIRE OF AI is one of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2025 in the Science and Technology category. 🥹
Some of my favorite childhood memories were formed at my local B&N, so this feels particularly special. Thanks B&N ❤️
Check out the full list here: www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/categor...
Some of my favorite childhood memories were formed at my local B&N, so this feels particularly special. Thanks B&N ❤️
Check out the full list here: www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/categor...
October 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
EMPIRE OF AI is one of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2025 in the Science and Technology category. 🥹
Some of my favorite childhood memories were formed at my local B&N, so this feels particularly special. Thanks B&N ❤️
Check out the full list here: www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/categor...
Some of my favorite childhood memories were formed at my local B&N, so this feels particularly special. Thanks B&N ❤️
Check out the full list here: www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/categor...
Earlier this year, after receiving emails from people in the throes of AI psychosis, I stayed in touch with one man as he journeyed to recovery.
I'm grateful to James that he was willing to go on record. He wanted people to know: humanlike chatbots are dangerous.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkGk...
I'm grateful to James that he was willing to go on record. He wanted people to know: humanlike chatbots are dangerous.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkGk...
He Lost His Mind Using ChatGPT. Then It Told Him to Contact Me.
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Earlier this year, after receiving emails from people in the throes of AI psychosis, I stayed in touch with one man as he journeyed to recovery.
I'm grateful to James that he was willing to go on record. He wanted people to know: humanlike chatbots are dangerous.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkGk...
I'm grateful to James that he was willing to go on record. He wanted people to know: humanlike chatbots are dangerous.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkGk...
At the TIME100 AI celebration last night, Natasha Lyonne stood in front of the emperors of AI and challenged them to their face. Doing that takes guts. And I’m incredibly honored that she cited my work as well.
Thank you for speaking truth to power, Natasha. 🙏
youtube.com/watch?v=RUu9...
Thank you for speaking truth to power, Natasha. 🙏
youtube.com/watch?v=RUu9...
Natasha Lyonne Asks AI Leaders: "Whatever Happened to Being Cool?"
YouTube video by TIME
m.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
At the TIME100 AI celebration last night, Natasha Lyonne stood in front of the emperors of AI and challenged them to their face. Doing that takes guts. And I’m incredibly honored that she cited my work as well.
Thank you for speaking truth to power, Natasha. 🙏
youtube.com/watch?v=RUu9...
Thank you for speaking truth to power, Natasha. 🙏
youtube.com/watch?v=RUu9...
I had so much fun going on Dutch late night last week during my brief stopover in Amsterdam!
Thank you to the amazing host Arjen Lubach, and his wonderful team & audience, for making me feel so welcome.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxq4...
Thank you to the amazing host Arjen Lubach, and his wonderful team & audience, for making me feel so welcome.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxq4...
October 12, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I had so much fun going on Dutch late night last week during my brief stopover in Amsterdam!
Thank you to the amazing host Arjen Lubach, and his wonderful team & audience, for making me feel so welcome.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxq4...
Thank you to the amazing host Arjen Lubach, and his wonderful team & audience, for making me feel so welcome.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxq4...
Reposted by Karen Hao
On this week’s “More To The Story,” tech journalist @karenhao.bsky.social sounds the alarm about the rising risks to the planet from the supercharged growth of the artificial intelligence industry.
The latest from our friends at @revealnews.org: tinyurl.com/4v5by3wm
The latest from our friends at @revealnews.org: tinyurl.com/4v5by3wm
October 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
On this week’s “More To The Story,” tech journalist @karenhao.bsky.social sounds the alarm about the rising risks to the planet from the supercharged growth of the artificial intelligence industry.
The latest from our friends at @revealnews.org: tinyurl.com/4v5by3wm
The latest from our friends at @revealnews.org: tinyurl.com/4v5by3wm
I now have a free stop in Munich on Oct 23 in addition to my ticketed one Oct 24!
Huge thanks to Sheila Beladinejad, founder of Women in AI, who pulled together the venue & resources to host me.
RSVP: www.amerikahaus.de/ausstellunge....
Check out my latest tour information: empireofai.com/#tour.
Huge thanks to Sheila Beladinejad, founder of Women in AI, who pulled together the venue & resources to host me.
RSVP: www.amerikahaus.de/ausstellunge....
Check out my latest tour information: empireofai.com/#tour.
September 29, 2025 at 7:08 AM
I now have a free stop in Munich on Oct 23 in addition to my ticketed one Oct 24!
Huge thanks to Sheila Beladinejad, founder of Women in AI, who pulled together the venue & resources to host me.
RSVP: www.amerikahaus.de/ausstellunge....
Check out my latest tour information: empireofai.com/#tour.
Huge thanks to Sheila Beladinejad, founder of Women in AI, who pulled together the venue & resources to host me.
RSVP: www.amerikahaus.de/ausstellunge....
Check out my latest tour information: empireofai.com/#tour.
Reposted by Karen Hao
Page One in Cincinnati.
September 24, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Page One in Cincinnati.
Reposted by Karen Hao
For @thenation.com: I reviewed @karenhao.bsky.social’s Empire of AI and took a closer look at her argument that OpenAI’s "scaling laws" echo the expansionist ideologies of European empires.
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
The True Threat of OpenAI
Karen Hao’s recent book on the company argues that its ambitions are not merely about scale or the market but the creation of a global force that rivals a colonial power of old.
www.thenation.com
September 18, 2025 at 4:03 PM
For @thenation.com: I reviewed @karenhao.bsky.social’s Empire of AI and took a closer look at her argument that OpenAI’s "scaling laws" echo the expansionist ideologies of European empires.
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Reposted by Karen Hao
💫 NEW! @karenhao.bsky.social, a leading journalist on AI’s impacts and harms, shares insights with GIJN ahead of her session at #GIJC25 in Malaysia.
🔗 More:
🔗 More:
gijn.org
‘Every Reporter has an AI Story to Tell’: Tips from an Award-Winning Journalist on the Risks of AI
twp.ai
September 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
💫 NEW! @karenhao.bsky.social, a leading journalist on AI’s impacts and harms, shares insights with GIJN ahead of her session at #GIJC25 in Malaysia.
🔗 More:
🔗 More:
The EMPIRE OF AI fall tour has new stops!
My site now lists all of my public events through the rest of the year. Some require tickets. Most are free with required registration.
Review the details and reserve your seats here: empireofai.com#tour.
See you soon!
My site now lists all of my public events through the rest of the year. Some require tickets. Most are free with required registration.
Review the details and reserve your seats here: empireofai.com#tour.
See you soon!
September 3, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The EMPIRE OF AI fall tour has new stops!
My site now lists all of my public events through the rest of the year. Some require tickets. Most are free with required registration.
Review the details and reserve your seats here: empireofai.com#tour.
See you soon!
My site now lists all of my public events through the rest of the year. Some require tickets. Most are free with required registration.
Review the details and reserve your seats here: empireofai.com#tour.
See you soon!
Reposted by Karen Hao
At the rate journalists are being killed in Gaza by the Israeli army, there will soon be no one left to keep you informed. We join with more than 150 other media outlets across the world to condemn these crimes.
Read more: interc.pt/3HS71C2
Read more: interc.pt/3HS71C2
September 1, 2025 at 2:35 PM
At the rate journalists are being killed in Gaza by the Israeli army, there will soon be no one left to keep you informed. We join with more than 150 other media outlets across the world to condemn these crimes.
Read more: interc.pt/3HS71C2
Read more: interc.pt/3HS71C2
Reposted by Karen Hao
I also really appreciate this advice from @emilymbender.bsky.social and @karenhao.bsky.social, which tracks with my own experience teaching high school students and college students and talking with my own kids. Emphasize environmental costs and - once more - that GenAI is *not* inevitable.
August 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I also really appreciate this advice from @emilymbender.bsky.social and @karenhao.bsky.social, which tracks with my own experience teaching high school students and college students and talking with my own kids. Emphasize environmental costs and - once more - that GenAI is *not* inevitable.
I didn't think a journalist and author could make it to the TIME100 AI list, but this one did. 🥹
What an honor—and lovely writeup from Andrew Chow.
"Hao is fundamentally shaping many people’s perceptions & understanding of the company at the center of the AI revolution."
time.com/collections/...
What an honor—and lovely writeup from Andrew Chow.
"Hao is fundamentally shaping many people’s perceptions & understanding of the company at the center of the AI revolution."
time.com/collections/...
TIME100 AI 2025: Karen Hao
Find out why Karen Hao made TIME’s list of the most influential people in artificial intelligence
time.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I didn't think a journalist and author could make it to the TIME100 AI list, but this one did. 🥹
What an honor—and lovely writeup from Andrew Chow.
"Hao is fundamentally shaping many people’s perceptions & understanding of the company at the center of the AI revolution."
time.com/collections/...
What an honor—and lovely writeup from Andrew Chow.
"Hao is fundamentally shaping many people’s perceptions & understanding of the company at the center of the AI revolution."
time.com/collections/...
Reading about the horrifying case of Adam Raine, a teen who killed himself after prolonged engagement with ChatGPT, I can’t help but think of German artist and filmmaker Hito Steyerl’s wisdom to me a year ago.
She already knew the answer. None of this was inevitable. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...
She already knew the answer. None of this was inevitable. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...
August 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reading about the horrifying case of Adam Raine, a teen who killed himself after prolonged engagement with ChatGPT, I can’t help but think of German artist and filmmaker Hito Steyerl’s wisdom to me a year ago.
She already knew the answer. None of this was inevitable. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...
She already knew the answer. None of this was inevitable. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...
It's festival season! Join me at 1 of 3 festivals over the next 4 days:
Aug 21: Edinburgh Book Festival
Aug 23*: San Diego Book Festival (virtual appearance)
Aug 24*: Open House Festival
A few tickets left for each: empireofai.com/#tour
* with apologies for the date typo on my tour card
Aug 21: Edinburgh Book Festival
Aug 23*: San Diego Book Festival (virtual appearance)
Aug 24*: Open House Festival
A few tickets left for each: empireofai.com/#tour
* with apologies for the date typo on my tour card
I'm headed back on tour for my book EMPIRE OF AI! Starting next week, I'll be on the road again with stops in the US, UK, Europe & Asia. Here are my upcoming events open to the public, with more to come. Event details & ticket reservations at empireofai.com/#tour.
August 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
It's festival season! Join me at 1 of 3 festivals over the next 4 days:
Aug 21: Edinburgh Book Festival
Aug 23*: San Diego Book Festival (virtual appearance)
Aug 24*: Open House Festival
A few tickets left for each: empireofai.com/#tour
* with apologies for the date typo on my tour card
Aug 21: Edinburgh Book Festival
Aug 23*: San Diego Book Festival (virtual appearance)
Aug 24*: Open House Festival
A few tickets left for each: empireofai.com/#tour
* with apologies for the date typo on my tour card
Wow EMPIRE OF AI is on the longlist for @FinancialTimes' best business book of 2025 alongside so many people whose work I admire, including @danwwang, @evadou, @doctorow & others. Such an amazing honor among amazing company 😍
View the list here: businessbook.live.ft.com/page/4834239/the-longlist
View the list here: businessbook.live.ft.com/page/4834239/the-longlist
August 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Wow EMPIRE OF AI is on the longlist for @FinancialTimes' best business book of 2025 alongside so many people whose work I admire, including @danwwang, @evadou, @doctorow & others. Such an amazing honor among amazing company 😍
View the list here: businessbook.live.ft.com/page/4834239/the-longlist
View the list here: businessbook.live.ft.com/page/4834239/the-longlist
Omg Andrew Garfield is reading my book for the OpenAI movie. www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/com...
August 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Omg Andrew Garfield is reading my book for the OpenAI movie. www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/com...
I'm headed back on tour for my book EMPIRE OF AI! Starting next week, I'll be on the road again with stops in the US, UK, Europe & Asia. Here are my upcoming events open to the public, with more to come. Event details & ticket reservations at empireofai.com/#tour.
August 13, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I'm headed back on tour for my book EMPIRE OF AI! Starting next week, I'll be on the road again with stops in the US, UK, Europe & Asia. Here are my upcoming events open to the public, with more to come. Event details & ticket reservations at empireofai.com/#tour.