Journalist Karen Hao Warns OpenAI Is Building AI Empire

Journalist Karen Hao described OpenAI as an empire driven by quasi-religious fervor that threatens democratic governance and fosters AI-driven colonialism ^[1].

Hao's warnings come as the company continues to expand its global influence, suggesting that the pursuit of artificial intelligence dominance is no longer just a business venture but a systemic risk to sovereignty.

Speaking during a July 3, 2026, broadcast for a July Fourth special on Democracy Now!, Hao said that the development of AI in Silicon Valley has been shaped by "quasi-religious movements" ^[1]. She said that this zeal fuels the growth of OpenAI under CEO Sam Altman, framing the organization as a modern-day empire ^[2].

Hao has reported on OpenAI since 2018 ^[2]. She said that the company's trajectory shifted rapidly after ChatGPT launched in 2022, when it became the fastest-growing app in history ^[4]. This rapid scaling has concentrated immense political and economic power within a single private entity.

According to Hao, this concentration of power creates a new form of colonialism, where the infrastructure and logic of AI are imposed on a global scale ^[1]. While she has previously noted that everyone has a stake in the development of AI ^[3], she now emphasizes the danger of that development being steered by a small, ideologically driven group.

These concerns arrive at a critical juncture for the company. OpenAI is expected to release the latest version of ChatGPT later this month ^[4]. The upcoming release is seen as another step in the company's effort to maintain its lead in the AI race, a race Hao suggests is being run with a fervor that bypasses traditional democratic checks.