Popular artificial intelligence platform, ChatGPT is set to commence a major revamp that could see ads being displayed to its users. The pivot was announced officially by OpenAI on Monday and means users may soon start seeing sponsored content cleverly tucked into their chat sessions.
Ever found yourself conversing with an AI and imagine how advertisements would fit right into the dialogue? Well, OpenAI is set to transform that thinking into reality. Ads will appear in one particular spot – at the bottom of the AI’s responses – effectively introducing a new dynamic to these conversations.
Despite the prospect of commercial content appearing in chats, OpenAI assures users that the functionality of ChatGPT will remain uninfluenced. That is, the AI’s responses wouldn’t sway towards favouring the displayed sponsors. Instead, the nature of responses would remain authentic: a feature which has solidified users’ trust in the platform over time.
The Rollout Scheme
For a start, these ads will only make their appearance to users on the free version of ChatGPT or those subscribed to the basic, lowest-earning $8 per month Go plan. But if you’re a paid user under the Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education plans, you won’t have to worry just yet as your chats will remain ad-free.
Desire an uninterrupted, ad-free experience? Then be prepared to pay for it. According to OpenAI, users who want to bypass ads will need to pay at least $20 per month for the Plus Subscription. Here’s where things get a bit interesting. In a bid to offer users a way out of the changes, OpenAI points out that there exists a loophole to bypass the ads completely.
It is noteworthy, though, that the introduction of ads to the AI-platform would alter the experience for users under the free and Go plans. For these users, the seamless, interruption-free experience they have enjoyed previously will soon be a thing of the past. They can, however, take solace in OpenAI’s reassurance that the ads will not dictate the content of the AI’s responses, hence, maintaining the platform’s impartiality.
In all, the step taken by OpenAI follows the ubiquitous digital marketing model where ads are displayed on platforms offering free services. It’s a balancing act for the AI developer, one that aims to generate income while maintaining impartiality and upholding the functionality that users have grown to admire. Soon we will see how users react to this change and whether or not it affects ChatGPT’s standing as an AI application of choice for its users.
Continue reading the full story at The Verge.
