OpenAI poaches Patreon trio in creator push

Patreon co-founder and longtime technology chief Sam Yam has jumped ship to OpenAI – taking two senior executives with him to build products for creators.

Yam, who had been at Patreon for more than 13 years, will lead creator product at the AI company. Drew Rowny, Patreon's former head of product, and Shannon Ma, its former head of engineering, are also making the move.

It is understood the trio will work on tools aimed at creators and their communities, although exactly what that will entail has yet to be revealed.

Announcing his exit on X, Yam said he believes creators "shape culture and have the power to unite diverse communities", adding that he is looking forward to "bringing many more of their ideas to life".

He also told creators to "pay attention" to OpenAI's DevDay on September 29.

In April, the company shocked observers with its surprise acquisition of creator-led tech podcast TBPN. It went a step further in August, hosting its first influencer brand trip to promote ChatGPT Work.

The company has also been paying influencers to create content around its technology, part of a strategy aimed at making AI appear more accessible and useful to mainstream audiences. Business Insider reported that OpenAI was hiring influencers to portray AI as "cool and helpful, not scary".

Patreon, meanwhile, has been reshaping its business. The company cut 20% of its workforce in July, with chief executive Jack Conte saying the restructuring was necessary to make the company more efficient after a period of rapid expansion.

Conte also pointed to AI as one of the forces reshaping the technology industry.

Despite the cuts, Patreon has continued investing in its core membership business. In June, it signed a three-year partnership with The Cutting Room Floor, supporting Recho Omondi's podcast as it expands into an independent media company.

The moves are unfolding as competition intensifies over the tools creators use to build and monetise their businesses. Social platforms are expanding their own earning products, while monetisation companies compete to own more of the direct relationship between creators and their audiences. OpenAI's latest hires put the AI company more firmly into that mix.