OpenAI states that it has disabled app recommendations resembling advertisements

OpenAI Addresses Concerns Over Promotional Content in ChatGPT

OpenAI has reiterated that ChatGPT does not currently feature advertisements or ad testing, but Chief Research Officer Mark Chen admitted the company could have handled recent promotional messages better and is working to enhance user experience.

This response follows feedback from ChatGPT Plus subscribers who reported seeing promotional suggestions for brands such as Peloton and Target within the platform.

According to OpenAI, these messages were part of an experiment to highlight apps developed on the ChatGPT app platform, introduced in October, and were not paid advertisements. Despite these assurances, some users remained unconvinced, with one expressing frustration by saying, “Bruhhh… Don’t insult your paying users.”

I'm in ChatGPT (paid Plus subscription), asking about Windows BitLocker

and it's F-ing showing me ADS TO SHOP AT TARGET.

Yeah, screw this. Lose all your users. pic.twitter.com/2Z5AG8pnlJ

Nick Turley, who leads the ChatGPT team, also addressed the situation, clarifying that rumors about advertising in ChatGPT are unfounded. He emphasized, “There are no active ad tests—any screenshots circulating are either fabricated or not advertisements. Should we ever introduce ads, we will do so thoughtfully, keeping user trust at the forefront.”

Earlier that day, Chen took a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging that the issue extends beyond simple misunderstanding. He stated, “Anything resembling an advertisement must be managed carefully, and we did not meet that standard. We have disabled these suggestions for now while we work to improve the model’s accuracy. Additionally, we are exploring better user controls so you can reduce or turn off these suggestions if you prefer.”

Earlier this year, OpenAI brought on Fidji Sumo, formerly of Instacart and Facebook, as CEO of Applications, fueling speculation about a future advertising push. However, a recent Wall Street Journal report revealed that CEO Sam Altman has declared a “code red,” shifting focus to enhancing ChatGPT’s quality and delaying other initiatives, including advertising efforts.