ChatGPT, the widely-used chatbot from OpenAI, is available for free, though there is a paid version that offers additional features. At present, the free version does not include ads, but this could change as the company explores ways to boost its revenue.
OpenAI Evaluates the Implementation of Ads on ChatGPT
In a conversation with the Financial Times, OpenAI’s CFO Sarah Friar did not dismiss the idea of displaying advertisements to users of the free version of ChatGPT in the future, despite several reservations surrounding the move. She views advertising as a potential strategy to enhance profits, given the substantial costs associated with operating AI servers.
Although OpenAI boasts a valuation exceeding $150 billion, it reportedly incurred losses of $5 billion this year due to AI training expenses.
Introducing advertising within ChatGPT could be a method to generate revenue while maintaining access for free users. Earlier this year, OpenAI recruited several advertising professionals from Meta and Google, reinforcing the possibility of this direction. However, Friar emphasized the need for OpenAI to be “thoughtful about when and where” ads would be deployed, indicating that this is unlikely to happen in the immediate future.
While reports suggest that OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman is beginning to entertain the concept of advertisements, he has previously indicated a general dislike for them, considering ads a “last resort.”
Currently, OpenAI charges a subscription fee of $20 per month for ChatGPT Plus, an upgraded version that gives access to the most recent language models, an increased message limit, and image generation capabilities. Additionally, the company offers specialized subscription options tailored for teams and enterprises.
Earlier this year, Apple collaborated with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into Siri, a feature expected to debut soon with iOS 18.2. Sources indicate that while Apple did not financially compensate for this partnership, the company plans to promote the ChatGPT Plus subscription directly within the iOS Settings, likely increasing subscription rates once the update rolls out to iPhone and iPad users.
The public release of the iOS 18.2 update, featuring ChatGPT integration, is anticipated later this month.
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