OpenAI announced Monday that it is beginning to test ads in the US for users on the Free and Go subscription levels.
The newest Go plan is a low-cost subscription at $8 a month in the US and it was introduced worldwide in mid-January.
Subscribers to OpenAI’s paid plans, including the Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education tiers, won’t see ads, the company said.
OpenAI has sought to address concerns about how ads might affect the user experience, stating in a blog post: “Ads don’t affect the responses ChatGPT gives you, and we keep your ChatGPT conversations private from advertisers. Our goal is for ads to support broader access to more powerful ChatGPT features while maintaining the trust people place in ChatGPT for important and personal tasks.”
The move, which the company announced last month, drew ridicule in a series of Super Bowl ads aired Sunday by a leading rival, Anthropic.
In its TV commercials, Anthropic teased the idea that some AI companies, such as OpenAI, would soon include ads by showing how poorly integrated ads could disrupt the consumer experience. This was portrayed on screen by glassy-eyed actors playing AI chatbots, who would provide their advice alongside a poorly targeted ad.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman weighed in on the jabs, calling the ads “dishonest” and Anthropic an “overbearing company.”
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Consumers have so far resisted the idea of ads in AI responses. OpenAI faced backlash late last year when it tested app recommendations that looked like spammy ads. However, the AI company needs to monetize its popular chatbot to cover its technology development costs and business growth.
While it’s understandable, critics fear the ads could influence ChatGPT’s responses. OpenAI denies this in its announcement, saying that ads will be optimized based on “what’s most useful to you.” The company says ads will always be clearly labeled as sponsored and separate from organic content.
In tests, OpenAI tried to match ads to users based on the topic of their conversations, previous conversations, and previous interactions with ads. For example, users researching recipes might see ads for grocery delivery services or meal kits, the company says. OpenAI said advertisers will not have access to user data, only aggregate information about ad performance, such as views and clicks.
Users will also be able to view the history of their ad interactions and delete it at any time. In addition, OpenAI said users can decline ads, share feedback, see why an ad was shown, and manage ad personalization settings.
Ads will not be shown to users under 18, nor will they be placed near sensitive or regulated topics such as health, politics or mental health.
