Transformer to spin out from Tarbell
October 20th, 2026 — Transformer, the publication dedicated to covering the power and politics of transformative AI, will spin out from the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism and become its own independent organization.
Originally incubated by Tarbell in 2024, Transformer has quickly established itself as a leading outlet covering the power and politics of transformative AI. Transformer’s scoops and analysis are read by staff across Congress, the executive branch and frontier AI companies, and are regularly cited by top outlets including the New York Times, the New Yorker and the Washington Post.
Having successfully built a large audience of key AI policy decision-makers, with its newsletter doubling in size over the past year, the publication will enter its next phase of growth as an independent entity, with the spin-out expected to complete by the end of 2027. Tarbell, which will continue to serve as Transformer’s publisher until then, will support Transformer with a substantial exit grant, covering Transformer’s operations through the end of 2028.
Founder and editor of Transformer, Shakeel Hashim, said: “We’re very grateful to Tarbell for supporting us from the very beginning. What started as a one-person, once-a-week newsletter has grown into a publication with our own team, audience, and identity. As we build on our mission to become the leading magazine covering AI policy, we’re excited to become a standalone entity — a setup that will better allow us to execute on our ambitious growth plans.”
Founder and Executive Director of Tarbell, Cillian Crosson, said: “One of Tarbell’s goals is to give reporters and new publications a running start. We’re very proud to have incubated Transformer and helped it to grow into the powerful publication and voice it is today. We look forward to seeing Shakeel and the whole team continue to grow with their deep reporting on AI, insightful analysis, and unique delivery.”
Media inquiries: media@tarbell.org
About Tarbell Center for AI Journalism
As concerns about AI development and investment rapidly grow across governments, media and even technology companies themselves, questions and scrutiny of the industry have never been more critical. Tarbell aims to drive this focus through supporting independent journalism that demystifies the debates around AI, holds the companies and people building it to account, and fosters the discourse necessary to chart a path that benefits society. The Tarbell Center for AI Journalism is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports journalism helping society navigate advanced AI, through the Tarbell Fellowship and Grants programs.
About Transformer
Transformer is a publication about the power and politics of transformative AI. Through reporting, analysis and opinion, we aim to help our audience understand what’s happening in AI and why it matters. We provide decision makers with the information and insight needed to anticipate and steer the impacts of transformative AI.