Screenshots circulating showing ads appearing in the interface of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT have created significant confusion among users. As speculation mounted, Nick Turley, head of OpenAI’s ChatGPT unit, issued a statement on social media to clarify the situation. Turley stated unequivocally that “live ad testing is not currently underway” on the platform.
ChatGPT screenshots spark controversy: Integration, not ads
Turley stated that the images users shared on social media, mistaken for ads, were either inaccurate or technically not classified as ads. This controversy was particularly fueled by a screenshot shared by former xAI employee Benjamin De Kraker. In the image, an option to shop at Target appeared in the middle of a ChatGPT chat. This fueled suspicions that the company was secretly experimenting with ads.
Daniel McAuley, an OpenAI employee, argued that the image was not an ad. McAuley argued that the content displayed was an example of the app integration feature the company announced in October. However, the company’s research chief, Mark Chen, took a more self-critical approach. Chen acknowledged that any content that feels like an ad should be handled with extreme caution, admitting that in this case, they fell short of expectations.
Following this confusion, OpenAI took swift action. Mark Chen explained that such recommendations were disabled until the model’s sensitivity was improved. The company is also working on more advanced controls so users can disable or reduce these integrations if they find them unhelpful.
Although not currently in active testing, there is still considerable interest in whether OpenAI will serve ads in the future. In November, snippets of code related to ads were discovered in the beta version of its Android app. Nick Turley emphasized that if they pursue an advertising strategy in the future, it will be done “thoughtfully” and designed to respect people’s trust in ChatGPT.
Advertising models for the sustainability of AI services are frequently discussed in the tech world. What are your thoughts on this? Does encountering shopping suggestions or advertisements in ChatGPT, which you use in your daily life, change your usage habits?
