OpenAI to test ads in ChatGPT as it burns through billions

OpenAI is introducing advertisements into ChatGPT due to significant financial pressures, as the company projects burning through approximately $9 billion this year while generating $13 billion in revenue, with only about 5% of its 800 million weekly users paying for subscriptions. This move contrasts with CEO Sam Altman's previous statements where he found the combination of ads and AI "uniquely unsettling." To address concerns about ad influence, OpenAI plans to display banner ads separated from the main conversation history at the bottom of responses. The company asserts that these ads will not influence ChatGPT's conversational outputs, nor will conversations be shared with advertisers. Furthermore, OpenAI stated it will avoid showing ads on sensitive topics like mental health and politics to users under 18, emphasizing that responses will remain driven by objective usefulness.

(Source：Ars Technica)