OpenAI starts testing ads in ChatGPT, says AI responses won’t be affected

OpenAI has started testing advertisements in ChatGPT in the US. The test applies only to logged-in adult users on the Free and Go plans. Users on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education plans will not see ads. According to OpenAI, ads won’t change or influence ChatGPT’s answers in any way. The responses will continue to be based only on what is most helpful for the user. Also, ads will always be clearly labelled as sponsored and shown separately from normal answers.

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The main reason for introducing ads is to support the cost of running and improving ChatGPT. OpenAI says keeping the free and low-cost versions fast and reliable requires major investment. Advertising helps fund this work and allows more people to access powerful AI tools at little or no cost.

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‘If you prefer not to see ads, you can upgrade to our Plus or Pro plans, or opt out of ads in the Free tier in exchange for fewer daily free messages,’ OpenAI said.

During this test, ads are selected based on how relevant they are to a conversation. This may include the topic being discussed, past chats, and how users interacted with ads before. For example, someone asking about cooking might see an ad for meal kits or grocery delivery. If several ads fit, the most relevant one is shown first.

OpenAI stressed that user privacy is protected. Advertisers do not have access to conversations, chat history, memories, or personal details. They only receive basic summary data, such as how many people viewed or clicked an ad.

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Ads will not appear for users under 18, and they will not be shown near sensitive topics like health, mental health, or politics.

Users also have control over their ad experience. They can dismiss ads, give feedback, see why a specific ad was shown, delete ad-related data, and manage ad personalisation settings at any time.

OpenAI says this is only a learning phase. The company is closely watching user feedback to make sure ads feel helpful and do not interrupt the experience. 

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Ayushi Jain

Ayushi works as Chief Copy Editor at Digit, covering everything from breaking tech news to in-depth smartphone reviews. Prior to Digit, she was part of the editorial team at IANS. View Full Profile