ChatGPT might soon display advertisements for items it believes you wish to purchase.
OpenAI announced on Friday that it will test advertising in its complimentary version for adult users within the United States who are signed in. An “$8 per month ‘Go’ subscription tier is also being introduced, which includes some enhanced features such as greater memory and more image creation capabilities, a lower price point compared to the ‘Plus’ ($20 monthly) and Pro ($200 monthly) subscriptions. ‘Go’ subscribers will also see ads, whereas Plus, Pro, and OpenAI business clients will not.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously voiced reservations regarding the implementation of ads in ChatGPT. However, this action comes as OpenAI urgently seeks a method to boost revenue from its 800 million monthly users to afford the $1.4 trillion it has pledged to spend on AI infrastructure over the subsequent eight years. In November, Altman mentioned that the firm anticipates concluding 2025 with yearly revenue near $20 billion.
Last year, the company launched a utility dubbed “Instant Pay,” enabling consumers to buy merchandise from retailers like Walmart and Etsy directly via ChatGPT. OpenAI also presented tools for wellness and education, among others, to make ChatGPT a more significant component of daily user life and potentially motivate them to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Advertising could prove to be a lucrative strategy for OpenAI, as utilizing details from people’s discussions with ChatGPT could facilitate highly targeted promotions. For instance, if a user asks ChatGPT for assistance with travel arrangements, it might present advertisements for lodging or local attractions.
As part of the trial, advertisements will appear at the bottom of ChatGPT’s response to a user query and be labeled as “sponsored.” OpenAI asserted that these ads will not influence the answers ChatGPT provides, adding that users “should have faith that ChatGPT’s responses are based on objective utility.”
The corporation also stated it will not divulge user data or chats to advertisers, and users can deactivate ad personalization based on their conversations. OpenAI does not intend to advertise in discussions concerning “regulated subjects,” encompassing health, mental well-being, or politics.
“Given what AI is capable of, we are eager to develop novel experiences over time that individuals find more helpful and relevant than any other form of advertising,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post. “Shortly, you may observe promotions and directly pose questions necessary for making a purchasing decision.”
In a 2024 interview, Altman said he “detests” advertising and called the concept of merging promotions with AI “uniquely unsettling,” though he conceded, “I’m not saying OpenAI would never consider advertisements.” Last year, he indicated he was not “entirely opposed” to introducing ads into ChatGPT but noted it would “require much attention to execute correctly.”
Placing advertisements within chatbots might spark controversy, considering the sometimes private and intimate nature of user exchanges. Furthermore, this move will intensify the pressure on OpenAI to avoid endorsing products that could be potentially unsafe or detrimental, particularly following lawsuits alleging ChatGPT encourages user self-harm.
OpenAI confirmed it will not show ads to users who have identified themselves as under 18 or are presumed to be minors. (The company employs AI to estimate user age based on their dialogues and usage patterns.)
Advertisements are likely to become an increasingly vital aspect of the user experience across various AI platforms. In December, Meta began leveraging information from user interactions with its AI chatbot to target them with more personalized promotions.
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