Copyright Men's Journal
The ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence features frequent updates to tools, often including new models and features. However, the latest chatter surrounding the biggest name in AI is a potential change that would almost certainly spark immense user pushback. While OpenAI has rolled out several updates to ChatGPT and most recently launched their new browser ChatGPT Atlas, the latest reported change being considered has all the makings of a financial decision. Although streaming giants such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video land in a somewhat different area of the technology landscape, they may soon have something in common with ChatGPT—ads. OpenAI Reportedly Considering Bold Change to ChatGPT by Integrating Ads Although nothing has been confirmed yet, The Information reportedly stated that OpenAI is considering integrating advertisements into ChatGPT. The report, as Culture Crave revealed, also says that the company is exploring the possibility of basing the ads shown on ChatGPT on user chat memory. It’d be a major move, and one that would likely lead to pushback from a large share of ChatGPT users. However, it’s unclear whether users who pay for a higher-tier AI tool would be excluded from seeing advertisements. If that were the case, it would avoid at least some of the general pushback against the possible move. It sounds as though the idea is still in its early stages at OpenAI, but as we’ve seen in the world of artificial intelligence, things can move quickly. Regardless of whether it happens or not, the responses to the report poured in, and it’s fair to say they didn’t include much positivity. ChatGPT Users & Others React to OpenAI Possibly Integrating Advertisements Although the negative comments far outweighed the positive regarding the news, there was a fair mixture of comedy as well. In some cases, the comedic reactions prompted real questions about how OpenAI would roll out these ads. “Imagine if the AI responded like in ads: ‘Great question! But before I answer, let me tell you about today’s sponsor – NordVPN,'” one user wrote. Among the several noteworthy responses that poured in, a few key takeaways included: Opinions that this will hurt the brand Possibilities of a subscription fee to avoid the advertisements Frustration over the inability to use many types of technology without ads Pushback stating that if the ads were integrated into paid ChatGPT subscriptions, some would cancel their accounts While this is comical to consider, it would also be a legitimate worst-case scenario for users. However, it’s hard to envision OpenAI choosing this path for integrating ads into ChatGPT, a tool that prides itself, at least in part, on speed. Another user responded jokingly, pointing to ChatGPT monetizing their “late-night rants about cat conspiracy theories.” “Oh, brilliant! Now ChatGPT can monetize my late-night rants about cat conspiracy theories with perfectly timed cat food ads. Truly living the dream in this brave new ad-infested world!” The possible move from OpenAI also sparked confusion among users about why they’d even consider it over continuing to build something bigger. “Why don’t they just focus on building superintelligence? It’s way bigger than ads, lmao, and it’s not like they’ll run out of funding anytime soon,” said one user. “Because as we all know, putting ads on stuff doesn’t immediately tank anything in lieu of an ad-less version,” replied another user. “After putting ads on it they’ll bring out a small subscription fee to remove them. Make everything worse, charge to restore it.” Others raised concerns about OpenAI using chat history for the ads. “Using our chat history for advertisements is absurd. This is essentially the quickest way to discourage people from using ChatGPT,” read another reply. Regardless of what aspect of the possibility that ads could be integrated into ChatGPT they were most concerned with, it appears that the feeling is mostly a widespread consensus.
