ChatGPT to Introduce Ads with Shopping Links
â–¼ Summary
– OpenAI will begin testing clearly labeled ads in ChatGPT for free users and ChatGPT Go subscribers in the US, placing them in a separate area at the bottom of chats.
– The company states it will keep conversations private from advertisers, never sell user data, and ensure ads do not influence ChatGPT’s answers.
– Ads will not appear for users of paid ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Enterprise plans, nor for users under 18 or near sensitive topics like health and politics.
– Users will have controls to turn off ad personalization, clear ad data, dismiss ads, and provide feedback on the advertisements.
– OpenAI’s goal for introducing ads is to allow more people to use its tools with fewer usage limits, following earlier hints and a previous, rolled-back experiment with promotions.
A major shift is coming for users of the popular AI chatbot, as ChatGPT will soon begin displaying sponsored shopping links and advertisements within conversations. This move, announced by OpenAI, marks a significant step toward monetizing the free and lower-cost tiers of its service. The company plans to start testing these clearly labeled ads in the coming weeks, initially for logged-in users in the United States who are on the free version or the newly expanded ChatGPT Go subscription plan.
The advertisements will appear in a distinct section at the bottom of the chat window, separate from the AI’s responses. OpenAI emphasizes a commitment to user privacy, stating it will keep conversations private from advertisers and will never sell user data. The company also asserts that advertisers will have no influence over the answers generated by ChatGPT, which will continue to be optimized for helpfulness based on the user’s query. This approach aims to balance revenue generation with maintaining the core utility of the tool.
Access to an ad-free experience remains a key benefit of premium subscriptions. Users subscribed to ChatGPT Plus, Team, or Enterprise plans will not see any advertisements. The announcement coincides with the expansion of the lower-cost ChatGPT Go plan to the U.S. market; however, this $8 per month tier will include ads. For those who do encounter sponsored content, OpenAI provides several controls, including the ability to disable personalization, clear ad-related data, dismiss specific ads, and offer feedback on the advertisements.
Certain protections are also being implemented. Users under the age of 18, or those OpenAI’s systems predict are minors, will not be shown ads. Furthermore, the company states that advertisements will not appear in conversations it identifies as relating to sensitive or regulated topics, such as health, mental health, or political discussions. This rollout follows earlier hints and experiments by OpenAI, including a brief test of app promotions last December that was later rolled back after user feedback. The company frames the current introduction of ads as a necessary step to allow more people to benefit from its AI tools while facing fewer usage restrictions.
(Source: The Verge)
