OpenAI has recruited three senior executives from Patreon to lead a new creator-focused product strategy. Sam Yam, Patreon's co-founder and technology chief, will head Creator Product at OpenAI, bringing with him former product head Drew Rowny and engineering head Shannon Ma. The hires suggest OpenAI is preparing to enter the creator monetisation business, a sector that Patreon helped establish.

Yam announced the move on X, hinting at new tools for creators that will be unveiled at OpenAI's DevDay on 29 September, with additional announcements expected this week. The departure represents another setback for Patreon, which laid off 20 per cent of its workforce in January and is currently undertaking an extensive overhaul of its platform features.