ChatGPT Is Getting Ads: Here’s How They’ll Work
▼ Summary
– OpenAI will begin testing ads in ChatGPT in the U.S. in the coming weeks, with plans for a global expansion.
– Ads will appear in separate, labeled boxes below ChatGPT’s answers and will not influence the chatbot’s responses.
– The initial ad tests will target users on the free and new $8/month Go tiers, but not Plus, Pro, or Enterprise subscribers.
– OpenAI states it will not sell user data or expose conversations to advertisers, using only aggregate performance metrics for advertisers.
– Ad targeting will match conversation topics, and users can turn off the data used for ads while keeping other personalization features.
A significant change is coming to the world’s most popular AI chatbot. OpenAI has confirmed it will begin testing advertisements within ChatGPT, starting with users in the United States before a wider global rollout. This move represents a new monetization strategy for the free and lower-cost tiers of the service, aiming to generate revenue while the company maintains its core promise: ads will not influence the chatbot’s actual responses.
The fundamental user experience is designed to remain unchanged. When a user asks a question, ChatGPT will provide its standard, unaltered answer. Any advertisement will appear in a separate, clearly marked box positioned directly below that response. For example, a query about weekend hiking trails might be followed by a sponsored suggestion for outdoor gear. OpenAI emphasizes that trust is paramount, stating the chatbot’s answers must always be driven by objective usefulness, never by commercial interests.
Initially, these ads will appear for users on the free plan and the new $8 monthly ChatGPT Go tier, which offers higher message and image generation limits. The Go tier launches in the U.S. this week, following its earlier introduction in markets like India and France. Importantly, subscribers to the Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans will not see any advertisements, preserving an ad-free experience for paying customers.
OpenAI has outlined specific principles to govern this new advertising model. A key commitment is that the company will not sell user data or share individual conversations with advertisers. Unlike much of the web, advertisers will not have access to personal details like age, location, or specific interests. Instead, they will receive only aggregated performance metrics, such as total ad impressions and click-through rates.
The process of matching ads to users will rely on conversation topics. While some personalization data may be used to refine relevance, users retain control. They can disable the use of their data for advertising purposes without affecting other personalization features, like ChatGPT’s memory function. The company also states that users can clear the data used for ads at any time. This approach seeks to balance relevant ad placement with strong privacy safeguards, as ChatGPT already collects various data to improve its core conversational abilities and memory features.
(Source: Wired)
