OpenAI faces user backlash as ChatGPT app suggestions spark confusion over intrusive ads
21 Sources
[1]
OpenAI slammed for app suggestions that looked like ads | TechCrunch
ChatGPT's unwelcome suggestion for a Peloton app during a conversation led to some backlash from OpenAI customers. People feared that ads had arrived, even for paid customers. OpenAI, however, clarified that the app suggestion was not an advertisement, but instead a poor attempt to integrate an app
[2]
Use ChatGPT? Ads might appear for you soon - but here's a sly trick to avoid them
Code in a beta version of the ChatGPT Android app hints at adsOpenAI hasn't officially commented on the inclusion of adsiPhone users do have a workaround to avoid ads The days of ad-free ChatGPT might soon be over, as it appears OpenAI is inching closer toward including advertisements in its
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OpenAI's App Suggestions Create Confusion, Concern About Intrusive Ads
ChatGPT has been nudging people to check out Target, Peloton, and other brands inside its chatbot, but OpenAI insists they're not ads. "This is not an ad -- it's just one of the ways we're testing surfacing ChatGPT apps when they're most relevant in the conversation," the company tells PCMag.
[4]
OpenAI denies rolling out ads on ChatGPT paid plans
OpenAI has denied the reports that it has rolled out ads on ChatGPT Plus after users spotted recommendations for shopping apps. As potted on X, a ChatGPT Plus user casually asked a normal question about Windows BitLocker. While the AI answered the question, it also recommended shopping at Target
[5]
OpenAI's head of ChatGPT says posts appearing to show in-app ads are 'not real or not ads'
Those might not exactly be ads you're seeing on ChatGPT, at least according to OpenAI. Nick Turley, OpenAI's head of ChatGPT, clarified the confusion around potential ads appearing with the AI chatbot. In a post on X, Turley said "there are no live tests for ads" and that "any screenshots you've
[6]
No, ChatGPT is not starting to show users ads, says OpenAI
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Bottom line: Testing of OpenAI's App SDK feature has stirred controversy after some ChatGPT users mistook its app suggestions for ad placement. While it has since cleared up the misunderstanding,
[7]
ChatGPT may not stay ad-free for much longer
One ChatGPT user claims to have already spotted an ad in the wild. Google has been running tests on how to best include ads on its AI services. However, Google isn't the only company interested in monetizing its AI offerings in this way. One of the tech giant's biggest competitors in the space may
[8]
Code suggests that OpenAI may be close to introducing ads for ChatGPT
The truly free ride for ChatGPT might soon come to a close as OpenAI could be nearing the introduction of ads. As first discovered by Tibor Blaho on X, a beta version of ChatGPT's Android app includes lines of code that heavily reference ads. According to the post, the 1.2025.329 beta version
[9]
ChatGPT ads are on the way, but iPhone users can avoid them - 9to5Mac
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman once described the idea of embedded ChatGPT ads as "unsettling" and "a last resort," but there are now multiple indications that they are on the way. It had been previously reported that the company was considering ads appearing in the AI chatbot, at least for free users, and
[10]
Code reveals OpenAI could be preparing to introduce ads to ChatGPT
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. TL;DR: With around 800 million weekly users, 95% of whom are on the free tier, it's somewhat surprising that OpenAI has never introduced ads to its incredibly popular chatbot. But based on some
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OpenAI tipped to launch ads on ChatGPT -- and there's already a huge backlash
(Image credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) If you thought paying for ChatGPT would mean an ad-free experience, think again. Over the past few days, OpenAI quietly began showing what it calls "app suggestions" in ChatGPT -- even for paying users shelling out $20 to $200 per
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OpenAI Preparing to Stuff Ads Into ChatGPT, According to Beta Code in App
Brace yourselves, for your cozy little conversations with OpenAI's ChatGPT are about to be stuffed with ads. At least, that's the findings of a software engineer who dug through the code of an experimental build of the chatbot's app. The engineer, Tibor Blaho, flagged roughly a dozen lines of
[13]
Your ChatGPT conversations may not stay ad-free for long
Sponsored suggestions could become part of your everyday prompts What's happened? Heads up if you use ChatGPT: it looks like ads could appear in your conversations soon. According to Bleeping Computer, a recent code leak by computer engineer Tibor Blaho on X hints that OpenAI is preparing to roll
[14]
Ads could soon be coming to ChatGPT -- here's what we know
In its three years of availability, ChatGPT has managed to avoid introducing adverts, even on its free plan. However, that could be about to change, according to a recent leak. Engineer Tbor Blaho, known for his AI insights and leaks, posted an image on X. This shows references to "ads features,"
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ChatGPT might show ads according to a code string
OpenAI appears to be laying the technical groundwork to monetize its free user base through advertising, signaling a shift from its ad-free origins. Code buried within the latest beta version of the ChatGPT Android app (v1.2025.329) explicitly references advertising frameworks, including specific
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Ads may be coming to ChatGPT as OpenAI reshapes how the service works
Summary Beta code hints that OpenAI is preparing to introduce ads into the chatbot's interface. OpenAI might use personal details in chat history and other user interactions to tailor advertising. It's possible that paying for ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or enterprise plans could let users avoid ads. While
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OpenAI Says ChatGPT Isn't Showing Ads to Paid Users
Such suggestions have been disabled while OpenAI improves precision OpenAI officials have dismissed claims of ads appearing on paid tiers of ChatGPT. The controversy initially stemmed from screenshots shared by users on social media recently, highlighting ads appearing below prompt responses in an
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OpenAI Might Be Showing Ads to Some ChatGPT Users
It is unclear when the company officially rolls out ads on the platform OpenAI's ChatGPT might soon show users ads as they message the company's popular chatbot. Multiple reports indicate that the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) giant has started testing ads on its chatbot
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OpenAI says ChatGPT is not showing ads after facing massive backlash
Plans for an ad-driven business are reportedly on hold as OpenAI prioritises improving ChatGPT's overall quality. OpenAI has once again cleared the air regarding the ChatGPT ad speculations that have been circulating on the internet. In a statement, OpenAI stated that several paying subscribers
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ChatGPT Ads: Sam Altman's dangerous road to boost OpenAI profits, will it work?
Code leaks reveal early ChatGPT advertising tests despite internal product reset On December 2, 2025, Sam Altman sent a companywide memo titled "code red" that urged OpenAI teams to drop distractions and refocus entirely on improving ChatGPT. The memo never mentioned advertising. Yet code strings
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ChatGPT users spot ads as OpenAI begins experimental rollout: Here's what we know
The beta version, labelled 1.2025.329, is not available to the public yet, but inside it the developer found terms like "ads feature", "search ad", "search ads carousel" and "bazaar content" OpenAI is reportedly getting ready to show ads inside the ChatGPT app, and some users say they are already
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OpenAI triggered widespread concern when ChatGPT began displaying app suggestions for brands like Peloton and Target that appeared to be ads, even for paid subscribers. The company insists these are not advertisements but part of a third-party app integration feature announced in October. However, the lack of relevancy to user conversations has created confusion and threatens user trust.
OpenAI App Suggestions Trigger User Confusion and Concern
OpenAI found itself at the center of controversy after ChatGPT users spotted what appeared to be ads embedded within their conversations. The incident gained significant attention when Hyperbolic co-founder Yuchen Jin shared a screenshot on X (Twitter) showing ChatGPT suggesting the Peloton app during an unrelated discussion about an Elon Musk podcast featuring xAI
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. The post, which has been viewed nearly 462,000 times, sparked immediate user backlash as Jin noted he was a paid subscriber to ChatGPT's $200-per-month Pro Plan1
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Source: Gadgets 360
Another ChatGPT Plus subscriber reported seeing a Target shopping recommendation while asking about Windows BitLocker, prompting the frustrated response: "I'm in ChatGPT (paid Plus subscription), asking about Windows BitLocker, and it's F-ing showing me ADS TO SHOP AT TARGET"
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. The lack of relevancy between these app suggestions and actual user queries created widespread confusion about whether OpenAI had begun inserting intrusive advertisements into its AI chatbot, even for paid subscribers who expect an ad-free experience.
Source: Engadget
OpenAI Denies Ads But Confirms App Discovery Feature Testing
OpenAI executives moved quickly to address the mounting concerns. Nick Turley, OpenAI's head of ChatGPT, stated on X that "there are no live tests for ads" and that "any screenshots you've seen are either not real or not ads"
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. Daniel McAuley, OpenAI's data lead for ChatGPT, clarified that the Peloton placement was "only a suggestion to install Peloton's app" with "no financial component" involved1
.The company confirmed to multiple outlets that users had spotted one of the ways OpenAI had been "testing surfacing apps in ChatGPT conversations" as part of its third-party app integration platform announced at DevDay in October
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. The app discovery feature was designed to allow apps to "fit naturally" into user conversations, with OpenAI partnering with pilot partners including Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Zillow, Target, and Walmart1
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.Poor Relevancy Undermines User Experience and Trust
Despite OpenAI's explanations, the distinction between app suggestions and ads remained unclear to many users. McAuley acknowledged that "the lack of relevancy" made it "a bad and confusing experience" and that OpenAI was iterating on the suggestions and user experience
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. Mark Chen, OpenAI's chief research officer, admitted the company "fell short" and noted that "anything that feels like an ad needs to be handled with care"5
.Chen announced that OpenAI has "turned off this kind of suggestion while we improve the model's precision" and is "looking at better controls so you can dial this down or off if you don't find it helpful"
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. The inability for users to disable these app suggestions made them feel particularly intrusive, with one user threatening "an instant unsubscribe" if the practice continued3
. The incident highlights the delicate balance OpenAI must strike between monetization efforts and maintaining user trust in its AI chatbot.Related Stories
Signs Point to Future Advertising Despite Current Denials
While OpenAI denies current ads implementation, evidence suggests the company is exploring advertising as a revenue stream. Code discovered in a beta version of the ChatGPT Android app (version 1.2025.32) contained multiple references to "openai.feature.ads," including strings like "search ad," "search ads carousel," and "ad target"
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. This discovery aligns with comments from Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, who stated on the OpenAI podcast that he's "not totally against" incorporating advertisements, citing Instagram ads as examples he finds "kinda cool"2
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Source: TechSpot
The potential shift toward advertising comes as OpenAI faces financial pressure. According to The Information, the company posted revenue of $4.3 billion in the first half of 2025 but still recorded a net loss of $13.5 billion during that period
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. Additionally, OpenAI has reportedly paused its advertising plans to focus on improving ChatGPT amid concerns about losing competitive ground to Google Gemini 33
. Turley acknowledged this possibility, stating that "if we do pursue ads, we'll take a thoughtful approach" and that "people trust ChatGPT and anything we do will be designed to respect that"5
. For now, iPhone users have a workaround through Apple's integration with OpenAI, which doesn't use requests for model training or advertisements when used through Siri without a ChatGPT account2
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