Oprah Winfrey To Host New Primetime Special, ‘AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special,’ Airing Thursday, Sept. 12, on ABC and Next Day on Hulu

Oprah Winfrey hosts an eye-opening new special that explores the profound impact of artificial intelligence on people’s daily lives, demystifying the technology and empowering viewers to understand and navigate the rapidly evolving AI future. The one-hour primetime event, “AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special,” airs THURSDAY, SEPT. 12 (8:00-9:03 p.m. EDT), on ABC and the next day on Hulu.

The special features Winfrey’s exclusive interviews with some of the most important and powerful people in AI including the following:

• Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, will explain how AI works in layman’s terms and discusses the immense personal responsibility that must be borne by the executives of AI companies.
• Microsoft Co-Founder and Chair of the Gates FoundationBill Gates will lay out the AI revolution coming in science, health and education, and warns of the once-in-a-century type of impact AI may have on the job market.
• YouTube creator and technologist Marques Brownlee will walk Winfrey through mind-blowing demonstrations of AI’s capabilities.
• Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin, co-founders of Center for Humane Technology, walk Winfrey through the emerging risks posed by powerful and superintelligent AI — sounding the alarm about the need to confront those risks now.
• FBI Director Christopher Wray reveals the terrifying ways criminals and foreign adversaries are using AI.
• Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson reflects on AI’s threat to human values and the ways in which humans might resist the convenience of AI.

“AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special” provides a serious, entertaining and meaningful base for every viewer to understand AI, and empowers everyone to be a part of one of the most important global conversations of the 21st century.

“AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special” is produced by Harpo Productions, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, Carla Gardini and Backstory Partners’ Josh Tyrangiel.

About Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is a global media leader, producer, philanthropist, actress and author. Over the course of her esteemed career, she has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, making her one of the most respected and admired figures today. For 25 years, Winfrey was host and producer of the award-winning talk show “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” engaging in a range of multifaceted cultural conversations. Currently, Oprah oversees Harpo Productions, serves as chairman and CEO of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, is the founder of O, The Oprah Magazine and digital companion site OprahDaily.com, and the host of the award-winning podcast “Super Soul.”

About ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment’s captivating programming includes “Grey’s Anatomy,” the longest-running medical drama in primetime television; ratings juggernaut “The Bachelor” franchise, including the newest hit spinoff “The Golden Bachelor”; riveting dramas “9-1-1,” “Doctor Odyssey,” “The Rookie” and “Will Trent”; trailblazing comedies “Abbott Elementary,” “The Conners” and the upcoming “Shifting Gears”; star-making sensation “American Idol”; family favorites including “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Dancing with the Stars” and “Shark Tank”; popular game shows, including “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Celebrity Jeopardy!,” “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” and “Press Your Luck”; “General Hospital,” which just marked its milestone 60th season; and late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live”; as well as critically acclaimed specials and live events including “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” and “The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.” The network is also home to some of television’s most prestigious awards shows, including “The CMA Awards” and “The Oscars®.”

ABC programming also streams next day on Hulu.

About Harpo Productions
Harpo Productions is a division of Oprah Winfrey’s multimedia company Harpo, Inc., producing acclaimed feature films, documentary films, scripted television programming and digital content. Most recently, the critically acclaimed re-imagining of “The Color Purple” with Warner Bros from director Blitz Bazawule. Previous projects include the Emmy award-winning docu-series “The 1619 Project” from Nikole Hannah-Jones and Roger Ross Williams with Lionsgate and The New York Times; Academy Award-nominated “Selma” starring David Oyelowo; Golden Globe-nominated “The Hundred-Foot Journey” starring Helen Mirren; Emmy-nominated HBO film “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” starring Oprah Winfrey; and Black List script “The Water Man” alongside David Oyelowo’s Yorubo Saxon and ShivHans Pictures. Currently, Harpo Films is producing the feature adaptation from Ta-Nehisi Coates “The Water Dancer” with MGM. Previous television projects include the recent adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s novel “Black Cake” for Hulu, OWN’s critically acclaimed series “Queen Sugar” and “David Makes Man” with Warner Bros. and hit drama series “Greenleaf” with Lionsgate.

ABC Media Relations
Cheryl Pratesa
cheryl.pratesa@abc.com

Harpo Media Relations
Nicole Nichols
NNichols@harpo.com

Chelsea Hettrick
CHettrick@harpo.com

For more information on “AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Special” (#OprahSpecial), visit abc.com and follow ABC on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.