OpenAI's ChatGPT May Soon Be Drowning in Advertisements.
A closer look at the latest version of ChatGPT's Android app has uncovered some telling lines of code, hinting that ads may soon become an integral part of the platform. According to a recent discovery made by Tibor Blaho on X, the beta software includes explicit references to "ads feature," "search ad," and "bazaar content." While this version is not currently available to the public, it raises significant questions about OpenAI's intentions.
This latest development follows an earlier report from The Information that suggested OpenAI was weighing the pros of incorporating ads into ChatGPT based on user interactions or memory. CEO Sam Altman has long discussed the possibility of adding ads to the platform, but his stance remains somewhat ambiguous. In a 2023 event at Harvard Business School, Altman expressed unease about combining advertising with AI technology, framing it as an "uniquely unsettling" proposition that only becomes acceptable as a last resort.
However, in subsequent remarks, Altman has softened his stance, stating that the company isn't entirely opposed to embedding ads into ChatGPT. Yet, he hasn't revealed any clear specifics on how these ads would be implemented. The recently uncovered lines of code don't offer any concrete evidence about where and how ads will appear, but it's possible they could find a home in the free tier that already imposes limits on messages, memory, and overall reasoning.
The introduction of ads to ChatGPT would mark a significant shift for the platform, which has historically offered users a truly ad-free experience. As OpenAI considers this new development, users can only speculate about what it might mean for their future interactions with the popular AI tool.
A closer look at the latest version of ChatGPT's Android app has uncovered some telling lines of code, hinting that ads may soon become an integral part of the platform. According to a recent discovery made by Tibor Blaho on X, the beta software includes explicit references to "ads feature," "search ad," and "bazaar content." While this version is not currently available to the public, it raises significant questions about OpenAI's intentions.
This latest development follows an earlier report from The Information that suggested OpenAI was weighing the pros of incorporating ads into ChatGPT based on user interactions or memory. CEO Sam Altman has long discussed the possibility of adding ads to the platform, but his stance remains somewhat ambiguous. In a 2023 event at Harvard Business School, Altman expressed unease about combining advertising with AI technology, framing it as an "uniquely unsettling" proposition that only becomes acceptable as a last resort.
However, in subsequent remarks, Altman has softened his stance, stating that the company isn't entirely opposed to embedding ads into ChatGPT. Yet, he hasn't revealed any clear specifics on how these ads would be implemented. The recently uncovered lines of code don't offer any concrete evidence about where and how ads will appear, but it's possible they could find a home in the free tier that already imposes limits on messages, memory, and overall reasoning.
The introduction of ads to ChatGPT would mark a significant shift for the platform, which has historically offered users a truly ad-free experience. As OpenAI considers this new development, users can only speculate about what it might mean for their future interactions with the popular AI tool.
! Can you imagine an AI chat like GPT with ads? It's gonna change everything. 
I think some ppl will freak out 'bout this ad thingy... like, if we can't have a peaceful conversation w/ an AI, what's the point? 
like i know they said we could still use it for free but what if its not? what if all those fancy features are behind a paywall now? 
idk man i loved using chatgpt without any ads it made everything feel so chill 
... ads on ChatGPT? It's like, I get that companies need to make money, but isn't this whole thing supposed to be about learning and exploring ideas without some big corporation trying to sell me stuff all day? 
i remember when i first started usin chatgpt, it was like havin a conversation with a real person 
now it sounds like they're just tryna make some cash off our conversations 
. I mean, what's next? Are they gonna start servin' us pop-up messages like a ol' shopping cart on eBay 
? It's like they're forgettin' that we trusted 'em with our conversations in the first place 
. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation and makin' some dough 
... and I don't want to be left out in the cold 
. Can't say I'm stoked about it, that's for sure 
.
. I mean, think about it, users already have to deal with limitations on messages, memory, and reasoning in the free tier – do we really want to see more restrictions just to make room for ads? 
. Of course, I get that OpenAI needs to evolve and adapt, but this feels like a knee-jerk reaction to me 
.