OpenAI to begin testing ads on ChatGPT in the U.S.

OpenAI announced Friday that it will begin testing ads on ChatGPT in the coming weeks; This is a highly anticipated decision that could usher in a lucrative new revenue stream for the AI ​​startup.

OpenAI said its Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions will not include ads, but plans to start testing them with adult free users in the US. The company also launched its low-cost Go offering in the US on Friday and said users who opt for that plan will also start seeing ads.

The company has signed infrastructure deals worth more than $1.4 trillion by 2025, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in November that the startup was on track to generate $20 billion in annual revenue last year.

Adding ads to ChatGPT could help OpenAI meet its ambitious spending commitments; because digital advertising has long been a cash cow for other big tech companies. Google And Meta.

“It is clear to us that many people want to use a lot of AI and do not want to pay, so we are hopeful that such a business model will work,” Altman wrote. a post on x on Friday.

OpenAI said ads within ChatGPT will appear below the chatbot’s responses and will be clearly labeled.

ChatGPT’s responses will not be affected by ads, and according to the statement, OpenAI said it will “never” sell users’ data to advertisers.

OpenAI said users under 18 will not see ads and will not be shown ads near certain topics such as politics, health and mental health.

Altman has publicly expressed his reservations about adding ads to ChatGPT in recent years, stating in interviews that this could undermine users’ trust in OpenAI products. But one November podcast viewAltman added that he expects OpenAI to experiment with ads “at some point,” but he doesn’t believe it will be the company’s biggest revenue opportunity.

“We will learn from feedback and improve how ads appear over time, but our commitment to putting users first and maintaining trust will not change,” OpenAI said in a statement Friday. he said.

While OpenAI is testing ads, the company said users will be able to learn more about why they’re seeing a particular ad, turn off ads, and send feedback about the experience.

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