Weekly Prompt: Will ChatGPT get ads? Plus, this week's other stories

OpenAI weighs advertising for ChatGPT

OpenAI is considering incorporating advertising into its products as it seeks to expand revenue streams following its shift to a for-profit model. Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told the Financial Times that the company is exploring an ad-based approach but stressed there are “no active plans” to implement it.

The AI firm, valued at $150 billion, faces significant operational costs despite securing $6.6 billion in funding. To support its monetisation efforts, OpenAI has recruited advertising experts, including Shivakumar Venkataraman from Google and Kevin Weil, who developed ad products at Instagram.

For brands, this exploration hints at potential new advertising opportunities in AI-powered tools. However, OpenAI has yet to outline what an ad model might entail or how it would balance user experience with advertiser demands.

CEO Sam Altman has expressed reservations, describing ads in AI systems as potentially unsettling, though Friar noted that ads could become part of the company’s future strategy if implemented thoughtfully. For now, OpenAI is prioritising growth within its existing subscription-based model while keeping advertising as a possibility for the future.

Sources: FT , TechCrunch,

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