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- ChatGPT tests ads as a new era of AI begins (fortune.com)
AI Chatbots Get Ready for Their Close-Up: Ads Are Coming!
Just when you thought your digital conversations were safe from commercials, a major shift is underway in the world of artificial intelligence. OpenAI announced Friday that it’s beginning to test advertisements within its popular ChatGPT app, a move that comes just two days after Google insisted it had no immediate plans for ads in its own Gemini AI app.
For many in the tech sphere, this development was seen as an inevitability. Running cutting-edge AI models demands immense computing power, electricity, and specialized processors, racking up staggering operational costs.
The lure of advertising revenue, a tried-and-true method for funding digital services, is proving too strong to resist. OpenAI reportedly anticipates generating “low billions” of dollars in revenue this year, with further growth projected annually.
While Google has so far kept ads out of its standalone Gemini chatbot, the tech giant has already integrated advertisements into the “AI Overviews” that appear in its online search results. This strategic move is viewed as crucial for Google as it aims to extend its massive $265 billion-a-year advertising empire into the burgeoning AI landscape.
OpenAI, in a blog post, assured users that forthcoming advertisements will be clearly labeled and, importantly, that user conversations with ChatGPT will remain private. The company stated, “You need to know that your data and conversations are protected and never sold to advertisers.”
They emphasized a commitment to a “high bar,” giving users control over their experience to ensure relevant, high-quality ads and the option to disable personalization. Furthermore, OpenAI affirmed that ads will not influence ChatGPT’s responses, which are “optimized based on what’s most helpful to you.”
The company stressed that subscriptions remain its long-term priority, confirming that its ad-free Plus ($20/month), Pro ($200/month), and Business Enterprise versions will continue without advertisements. OpenAI noted, “Our enterprise and subscription businesses are already strong, and we believe in having a diverse revenue model where ads can play a part in making intelligence more accessible to everyone.”
OpenAI linked the introduction of ads to its broader mission of ensuring that advanced general intelligence (AGI) “benefits all of humanity.” In a separate statement, the company reiterated that “ads support our commitment to making AI accessible to everyone by helping us keep ChatGPT available at free and affordable price points.”
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- ChatGPT tests ads as a new era of AI begins (fortune.com)