Big news for users of the free version of ChatGPT: OpenAI has announced that advertisements will soon appear within the AI platform. This marks a major shift, as ChatGPT has so far been completely ad-free. The change has raised important questions about user privacy, though CEO Sam Altman has sought to reassure users that their conversations will remain private and the AI’s responses will not be influenced by ads.
How Ads Will Appear
According to Altman’s post on X, ads will be displayed directly below ChatGPT’s responses. These ads will be contextually related to the user’s query—for example, a question about smartphones may trigger a smartphone-related ad. OpenAI has emphasized that ads will be kept separate from the AI’s responses and that user data will not be used for advertising purposes.
Why OpenAI Is Introducing Ads
Altman explained that while people want to use AI freely, many are reluctant to pay for it. Ads provide a way to sustain the platform for both users and the company. He compared the approach to how Google and Meta integrate ads into their services. Altman stressed that advertising aligns with OpenAI’s mission by enabling broader access to AI tools.
What This Means for Users
NBT Perspective: There is a longstanding principle in the digital world: if a service is free, you are often the product. The same applies to OpenAI—time will tell how user data is managed and protected. It is worth noting that OpenAI started as a nonprofit but later transitioned into a public benefit corporation. Now, with advertising being introduced, careful monitoring will be needed to ensure that user privacy remains intact over the long term.
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