ChatGPT to begin testing ads to boost revenue
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The news: OpenAI will start testing ads in ChatGPT for the first time, marking a major pivot in its strategy as it looks to boost revenue streams.
The context: OpenAI said on Friday that the company will begin showing ads in the free version of the chatbot and a new subscription tier, ChatGPT Go. The “Go” tier will be available for users globally at USD8 per month (or equivalent in other currencies).
It said via a blog post that the ads will appear at the bottom of answers in ChatGPT where there is a relevant sponsored product or service based on your current conversation. Ads will be clearly labelled and separated from the organic answer.
The ad testing will initially take place in the US in the coming weeks.
OpenAI says they will not influence ChatGPT's responses and the firm will not share data about conversations with advertisers.
The move is a major shift for the company which has relied on a subscription model. CEO Sam Altman previously said that advertising on the platform would only be a “last resort.” OpenAI’s push to diversify revenue comes ahead of widely speculated initial public offering and amid massive spending costs to support AI systems.
The sources: OpenAI ChatGPT Go, OpenAI ChatGPT ads, WSJ, Bloomberg, BBC, The Guardian
