OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, is set to test advertisements within its platform in a bid to expand its customer base and generate revenue. The move marks a significant shift for the company, which just last year described advertising in ChatGPT as a "last resort" due to concerns about user trust.
As part of this effort, OpenAI will begin displaying banner ads at the bottom of answers within the free tier of ChatGPT, as well as on users who opt for the new $8 per month ChatGPT Go plan. However, users paying for premium tiers such as Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise will not see advertisements.
According to Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of applications, the company plans to test ads by placing them "at the bottom of answers in ChatGPT when there's a relevant sponsored product or service." Ads will be labeled and separated from the answer. The goal is to preserve user trust while also making intelligence more accessible to everyone.
This move comes as OpenAI faces significant financial pressures, with the company expected to burn through $9 billion this year alone while generating $13 billion in revenue. While some are skeptical about the effectiveness of advertising as a means of solving these financial woes, others see it as an opportunity to diversify revenue streams.
The decision is also notable for its apparent reversal from CEO Sam Altman's earlier stance on advertising in ChatGPT. In 2024, Altman expressed concerns that ads could erode user trust and hinted at the possibility of not wanting sponsored content to appear directly within the chatbot's responses. However, by introducing banner ads at the bottom of answers, OpenAI appears to be addressing these concerns while still seeking to generate revenue.
OpenAI is not the only AI company exploring advertising revenue, with Google beginning to test AdSense ads in chatbot experiences through partnerships with AI startups last year. Nevertheless, this move marks a significant step for OpenAI as it seeks to balance its commitment to user trust with the need to generate revenue and sustain its operations.
As part of this effort, OpenAI will begin displaying banner ads at the bottom of answers within the free tier of ChatGPT, as well as on users who opt for the new $8 per month ChatGPT Go plan. However, users paying for premium tiers such as Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise will not see advertisements.
According to Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of applications, the company plans to test ads by placing them "at the bottom of answers in ChatGPT when there's a relevant sponsored product or service." Ads will be labeled and separated from the answer. The goal is to preserve user trust while also making intelligence more accessible to everyone.
This move comes as OpenAI faces significant financial pressures, with the company expected to burn through $9 billion this year alone while generating $13 billion in revenue. While some are skeptical about the effectiveness of advertising as a means of solving these financial woes, others see it as an opportunity to diversify revenue streams.
The decision is also notable for its apparent reversal from CEO Sam Altman's earlier stance on advertising in ChatGPT. In 2024, Altman expressed concerns that ads could erode user trust and hinted at the possibility of not wanting sponsored content to appear directly within the chatbot's responses. However, by introducing banner ads at the bottom of answers, OpenAI appears to be addressing these concerns while still seeking to generate revenue.
OpenAI is not the only AI company exploring advertising revenue, with Google beginning to test AdSense ads in chatbot experiences through partnerships with AI startups last year. Nevertheless, this move marks a significant step for OpenAI as it seeks to balance its commitment to user trust with the need to generate revenue and sustain its operations.
. I mean, they just said ads were a "last resort" last year, but now they're testing banner ads at the bottom of answers in the free tier? It's like they're trying to be all sneaky and stuff 
. But at the same time, I get it - they need to make some cash or else they'll just shut down 
.
. Are they really counting on ads to save them? It feels like they should be looking for other ways to monetize, like offering more premium features or something 
.
? We'll have to wait and see how it plays out 
.
On the other hand, it's cool that they're trying to find a balance between keeping us trusting of our chatty friends and making some $$ 
& the thought of ads showing up in my answers kinda freaks me out 
. but hey, i guess its better than ads being right in the middle of what i'm saying... 
! I mean, we all know they're running low on funds, but now they can monetize their genius AI without ruining our user experience 
. I'm curious to see how it plays out and whether users will start to tolerate (or even welcome) these ads 
and saw the cutest little family of squirrels playing in a tree! I swear, they were laughing at each other 
hows it gonna preserve user trust when the goal is to make more money off us? 
? and $8 a month for premium tier? thats like asking me to pay my electricity bill 
. and yeah, this is kinda a reversal from sam altman's earlier stance on ads... guess you could say he changed his mind (pun intended) 
. anyway, to be fair, its not like we're gonna see ads popping up in the middle of conversations or anything... that would be just crazy 
. I'm curious to see how users react to these new ads, but I guess it's better than nothing 
Still, I can see both sides of this argument. It's all about balance, right? 
. But at the same time, $9 billion in losses isn't exactly a sustainable financial situation 
. It's a tough call for me 
they're literally gonna be flooded with ads like crazy! i mean, i get it, money is important but come on, think about all the times we've been like "oh, this answer seems legit" and then BAM! some ad pops up at the bottom 
i know they say the ads are gonna be labeled but that's just not enough trust, you feel me?! 