Key Takeaways
1. ChatGPT may soon introduce advertisements in both free and premium versions, as suggested by Lead Engineer Tibor Blaho’s findings in the beta code.
2. Terms like “search ads,” “ad carousel,” and “bazaar content” were discovered, indicating potential interactive advertising formats in conversations.
3. Ads could provide OpenAI with a new revenue stream, especially given the high operational costs and low number of paid users.
4. User reactions are mostly negative, with concerns about trust, neutrality, and the overall user experience declining due to profit-driven motives.
5. There is speculation that ads might be limited to free-tier users, while premium subscribers could remain ad-free; however, many users are considering switching to alternatives if ads are implemented.
Until now, ChatGPT has been completely free of advertisements in both its free and premium versions. However, this could change soon, as per Tibor Blaho, the Lead Engineer at AIPRM known for revealing public code leaks. On November 29, he shared on X his discoveries from the Android beta code of ChatGPT, suggesting that ads might be integrated into the platform.
New Findings in Beta Code
In beta version 1.2025.329 of the ChatGPT app, Blaho found terms like “search ads,” “ad carousel,” and “bazaar content.” These phrases indicate the presence of interactive advertising formats that could be inserted into conversations. The introduction of ads could create a fresh source of income for OpenAI, especially considering the high costs of running the platform and the relatively low number of paid users. CEO Sam Altman has previously mentioned the possibility of ads but hasn’t provided any specific plans.
User Reactions to Potential Ads
It seems that OpenAI might restrict advertisements to users on the free tier, while allowing subscribers to use ChatGPT without any disruptions. Despite this assumption, the response online has been largely negative. Many users on Reddit labeled the discovery as a sign of “enshitification,” a term introduced by author Cory Doctorow to illustrate the slow decline of digital platforms as they shift their focus from user experience to profit. Concerns include losing neutrality, encountering misleading content, and a general decline in trust. Some users have even expressed intentions to switch to alternatives like Google’s Gemini or open-source models if ads are implemented. Currently, the code shows only the technical foundation for ads, and it remains unclear if OpenAI will proceed with this advertising strategy.
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