This week on The Fin, Technology editor Paul Smith talks about his interview with Altman and reveals what it would take for the AI chief to pull the plug.

Further reading: 
What OpenAI’s Sam Altman suggests you do to keep your job
The race is on to build machines that can outthink humans. The tech founder in charge of ChatGPT says there is one thing that would make him stop.
‘Try the future’: New ChatGPT AI agents promise to do your jobs
Drawing on three pre-existing OpenAI products, ChatGPT Agent lets users ask AI to take control of multi-step and fairly complex tasks.
OpenAI wants AI tax breaks, promises $115b annual windfall
OpenAI chief economist Ronnie Chatterji has conducted a whirlwind set of meetings in Canberra as the company prepares to launch an AI blueprint for Australia.

This week on The Fin, Technology editor Paul Smith talks about his interview with Altman and reveals what it would take for the AI chief to pull the plug.
Further reading:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/what-openai-s-sam-altman-suggests-you-do-to-keep-your-job-20250629-p5mb1g" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/technology/what-openai-s-sam-altman-suggests-you-do-to-keep-your-job-20250629-p5mb1g" data-sk="tooltip_parent">What OpenAI&rsquo;s Sam Altman suggests you do to keep your job</a> The race is on to build machines that can outthink humans. The tech founder in charge of ChatGPT says there is one thing that would make him stop. <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/chatgpt-will-soon-shop-online-make-powerpoints-on-your-behalf-20250718-p5mfv8" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/technology/chatgpt-will-soon-shop-online-make-powerpoints-on-your-behalf-20250718-p5mfv8" data-sk="tooltip_parent">&lsquo;Try the future&rsquo;: New ChatGPT AI agents promise to do your jobs</a> Drawing on three pre-existing OpenAI products, ChatGPT Agent lets users ask AI to take control of multi-step and fairly complex tasks. <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/openai-wants-ai-tax-breaks-promises-115b-annual-windfall-20250630-p5mb96" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/openai-wants-ai-tax-breaks-promises-115b-annual-windfall-20250630-p5mb96" data-sk="tooltip_parent">OpenAI wants AI tax breaks, promises $115b annual windfall</a> OpenAI chief economist Ronnie Chatterji has conducted a whirlwind set of meetings in Canberra as the company prepares to launch an AI blueprint for Australia.

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.

Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.
Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter.

The Fin

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts. 

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts.&nbsp;

Latest episodes 

"What the f*** did you do?" Sam Altman on being fired & rehired for AI’s biggest job

Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and associate editor Primrose Riordan on how Bathla built its property empire, why it all fell apart and why its effects will be felt well beyond western Sydney.

This podcast is sponsored by Elston.

Further reading:
Living in ‘half a house’: How Bathla turned cheap housing into a nightmare
The downfall of the developer has left families stranded in half-built homes and sent shockwaves through the private credit market.
This developer could be private credit's ticking time bomb
Bathla Group, a property developer has almost $3.2 billion in debt, it will be private credit investors who could lose out.
Bathla’s collapse has property insiders panicking like it’s 2007
Australia’s ever-rising property market has masked all manner of sins, particularly in private credit, which has been shown up for its lack of discipline.

Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and associate editor Primrose Riordan on how Bathla built its property empire, why it all fell apart and why its effects will be felt well beyond western Sydney.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.elston.com.au/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=19236343106&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADmBLJWPnwDE0sTFfKnDulKIuI-HZ&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkt_UBhDMARIsALpnOAwakZIltK4DHLGxRwsVeWhLAHCKGzlSCEOaIWtPRQbPfsYeUJeNWE8aAh-EEALw_wcB">Elston</a>.
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/property/residential/living-in-half-a-house-how-bathla-turned-cheap-housing-into-a-nightmare-20260904-p60ugp?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Living in &lsquo;half a house&rsquo;: How Bathla turned cheap housing into a nightmare</a> The downfall of the developer has left families stranded in half-built homes and sent shockwaves through the private credit market. <a href="https://www.afr.com/property/residential/this-sydney-developer-could-be-private-credit-s-ticking-time-bomb-20260714-p60f7d?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">This developer could be private credit's ticking time bomb</a> Bathla Group, a property developer has almost $3.2 billion in debt, it will be private credit investors who could lose out. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/bathla-s-collapse-has-property-insiders-panicking-like-its-2007-20260902-p60tvo?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Bathla&rsquo;s collapse has property insiders panicking like it&rsquo;s 2007</a> Australia&rsquo;s ever-rising property market has masked all manner of sins, particularly in private credit, which has been shown up for its lack of discipline.

Why the Bathla collapse is being compared to the GFC

This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and Victorian political correspondent Sumeyya Ilanbey on the project that has come to sum up Victoria’s problems, whether it is too big to cancel and how it will play into November’s state election.

This podcast is sponsored by Elston.

Further reading:
The secret tax that says everything about Victorian Labor
The revelation that Labor secretly introduced a tax on public transport users is the latest chapter in a saga in which political momentum has trumped fiscal responsibility. (edited) 
Vic Labor’s secret tax exposes fiscal transparency void
The opposition and leading economists say a charter of budget honesty is needed after the Victorian government introduced a new tax without telling the public. (edited) 
Carroll’s budget scalpel misses the $34b elephant in the room
Premier Ben Carroll is looking to scrape off as many costly, wasteful barnacles he can find before the November 28 state election

This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and Victorian political correspondent Sumeyya Ilanbey on the project that has come to sum up Victoria&rsquo;s problems, whether it is too big to cancel and how it will play into November&rsquo;s state election.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.elston.com.au/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=19236343106&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADmBLJWPnwDE0sTFfKnDulKIuI-HZ&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkt_UBhDMARIsALpnOAwakZIltK4DHLGxRwsVeWhLAHCKGzlSCEOaIWtPRQbPfsYeUJeNWE8aAh-EEALw_wcB">Elston</a>.
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/the-secret-tax-that-says-everything-about-victorian-labor-20260827-p60s9b?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">The secret tax that says everything about Victorian Labor</a> The revelation that Labor secretly introduced a tax on public transport users is the latest chapter in a saga in which political momentum has trumped fiscal responsibility.&nbsp;(edited)&nbsp; <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/vic-labor-s-secret-tax-exposes-fiscal-transparency-void-20260831-p60t23?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Vic Labor&rsquo;s secret tax exposes fiscal transparency void</a> The opposition and leading economists say a charter of budget honesty is needed after the Victorian government introduced a new tax without telling the public.&nbsp;(edited)&nbsp; <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/carroll-reels-in-fishy-andrews-allan-era-scheme-20260901-p60tbr?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Carroll&rsquo;s budget scalpel misses the $34b elephant in the room</a> Premier Ben Carroll is looking to scrape off as many costly, wasteful barnacles he can find before the November 28 state election

Too big to cancel? The project that sums up Victoria’s problems

Associate editor Primrose Riordan and courts correspondent Max Mason on why Jon Adgemis is struggling to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret and what his story tells us about the private credit market.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac.

Further reading:
Jon Adgemis thought he was winning. Then his CFO took the stand
The failed pub baron has been trying to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret. But a chatty former accountant is making that difficult.
Adgemis’ right-hand man alleges tax con funded ‘exorbitant lifestyle’
The business affairs of the former KPMG deal maker-turned-bankrupt are being scrutinised, with allegations of “sham arrangements” to pay for his spending.
From playboy pub baron to bankruptcy: Inside Jon Adgemis’ $1.8b fall
From KPMG consultant to “glamour banker” with the “Midas touch” to junk-debt-laden bankrupt. It’s been a wild ride for Jon Adgemis and Public Hospitality Group.

Associate editor Primrose Riordan and courts correspondent Max Mason on why Jon Adgemis is struggling to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret and what his story tells us about the private credit market.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/">Westpac</a>.
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/jon-adgemis-thought-he-was-winning-then-his-cfo-took-the-stand-20260813-p60o1f?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Jon Adgemis thought he was winning. Then his CFO took the stand</a> The failed pub baron has been trying to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret. But a chatty former accountant is making that difficult. <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/where-d-the-money-go-adgemis-cfo-flips-on-former-boss-20260812-p60nl5?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Adgemis&rsquo; right-hand man alleges tax con funded &lsquo;exorbitant lifestyle&rsquo;</a> The business affairs of the former KPMG deal maker-turned-bankrupt are being scrutinised, with allegations of &ldquo;sham arrangements&rdquo; to pay for his spending. <a href="https://www.afr.com/property/commercial/from-playboy-pub-baron-to-bankruptcy-inside-jon-adgemis-1-8b-fall-20251002-p5mzgv?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">From playboy pub baron to bankruptcy: Inside Jon Adgemis&rsquo; $1.8b fall</a> From KPMG consultant to &ldquo;glamour banker&rdquo; with the &ldquo;Midas touch&rdquo; to junk-debt-laden bankrupt. It&rsquo;s been a wild ride for Jon Adgemis and Public Hospitality Group.

"What the f*** did you do?" Sam Altman on being fired & rehired for AI’s biggest job

In 2 playlist(s)

The Fin

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips