OpenAI announced Friday that it plans to begin testing advertisements within ChatGPT in the coming weeks, a move that represents a significant change for the widely used artificial intelligence product. The initial ad tests will be rolled out in the United States before expanding globally.
The company stated that the advertisements will not influence ChatGPT's responses. Instead, all ads will appear in clearly labeled boxes directly below the chatbot's answer. For example, a user asking ChatGPT for help planning a trip to New York City would receive a standard answer from the chatbot, followed potentially by an advertisement for a hotel in the area.
Fidji Simo, CEO of applications at OpenAI, emphasized the importance of maintaining user trust in a blog post announcing the ad trial. "People trust ChatGPT for many important and personal tasks, so as we introduce ads, it’s crucial we preserve what makes ChatGPT valuable in the first place," Simo wrote. "That means you need to trust that ChatGPT’s responses are driven by what’s objectively useful, never by advertising."
The first advertisements will appear for logged-in users on ChatGPT's free tier, as well as its $8-a-month Go tier, which is scheduled to begin rolling out to users in the United States on Friday.
This decision to incorporate advertising marks a new phase in the monetization strategy for ChatGPT, which has rapidly gained popularity since its release. The introduction of ads raises questions about the future of AI-driven platforms and how they will balance user experience with revenue generation. The company's approach to ad placement, ensuring they are distinct from the AI's responses, is a key factor in preserving the integrity of the information provided by ChatGPT.
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