OpenAI is reportedly exploring its most controversial monetization move to date, introducing personalized ads inside ChatGPT. Potentially powered by users’ stored memories. The plan has sparked comparisons to Meta’s data-driven ad model, raising both business and ethical concerns.
Key Takeaways:
- OpenAI is considering personalized ads inside ChatGPT, potentially using memory-based targeting similar to Meta’s model.
- Critics warn this could severely damage user trust, as people share far more personal data with ChatGPT than on social platforms.
- Supporters view ads as a necessary evolution, with OpenAI needing a scalable business model to support massive operating costs and future growth.
The Privacy Dilemma: Are Users Ready for “AI targeted Ads”?
The idea of memory-based ad targeting inside ChatGPT is triggering discomfort among users who already share personal thoughts, work, emotions, and decision-making details with the AI.
The AI giant, worth around $500 billion, is struggling to convert ChatGPT’s massive user base into reliable revenue, as only about 5% of its roughly 800 million users currently pay for premium tiers, according to reports by Financial Times and The Information.
Meanwhile, the company is preparing for huge spending on computer and AI model development, and leadership sees monetization pressure rising as OpenAI inches toward a future public offering.
Internally, executives are debating whether ChatGPT should introduce ads, including memory-based targeting, as focus-group research has reportedly found that many users already believe ChatGPT results may be influenced by sponsorships, leading the company to assume there would be minimal pushback.
Cultural Shift or Logical Move?
That said, OpenAI’s adoption of memory-targeted ads would represent a sharp cultural shift from its founding mission of making sure AI benefits humanity, and critics argue it would mark the full ‘Meta-fication’ of OpenAI, especially as about 20% of its workforce now includes former Meta employees.
At the same time, others view it as a natural next step for a company spending billions each year on infrastructure without a currently sustainable revenue model.
As a reminder, OpenAI has recently expanded its pricing ladder to include more accessible subscriptions, launching the ChatGPT Go tier for about $4/month (€4 / £3.50), rolling out across Europe after debuting in developing markets. It offers fewer limitations than free access but doesn’t include OpenAI’s most advanced ‘Thinking’ model capabilities.
Earlier, OpenAI caused a stir with the launch of its AI browser called ChatGPT Atlas, which many believed could replace Google’s Chrome. However, Reddit users who have used it have expressed dissatisfaction with its performance, as they expected it to be faster and automated.
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What do you think?
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