New Delhi: OpenAI has begun testing ads for the ChatGPT users on its Free and Go subscription tiers in the United States. The company has officially stated that ads do not influence ChatGPT’s answers and are clearly labelled as sponsored, with the visual separation from the responses. OpenAI has stated that the goal of unveiling ads is to keep ChatGPT free for the wider audience with fewer usage limits. The change has been applied only to the lower-cost plans, while paid tiers such as Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education will remain ad-free.
OpenAI has chosen which ad to show based on the topic of the conversation, along with the user’s past chats and earlier interactions. OpenAI has also added that users can turn off ad personalization and clear the data used for ad personalization at any time. OpenAI has also tried to address the concerns about whether the ads could influence ChatGPT’s responses. OpenAI has also emphasized privacy safeguards; advertisers do not get access to chats, chat history, memories, or personal details. They will only receive aggregated performance data, such as how many times an ad was viewed or clicked.
OpenAI has also stated that the ads will not appear in accounts where the users have stated they are under 18, or where the system predicts the user may be under 18. Ads will also be blocked from appearing in the conversations that involve sensitive or regulated topics such as health, mental health, or politics. OpenAI has also stated that as its advertising programme develops, users’ privacy and safety will remain a priority. It will put safeguards in place to limit narrow ad targeting and be selective about which advertisers are enabled on the platform.
