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OpenAI has pulled the plug on certain promotional notifications within ChatGPT following backlash from users who perceived them as intrusive advertisements. The company’s chief research officer, Mark Chen, addressed the issue in a statement on X, explaining that the team is refining the user interface after displaying suggestions for third-party applications like Peloton and Target. These messages have since been deactivated to prevent similar disruptions.
Chen acknowledged the misstep, stating, “I agree that anything that feels like an ad needs to be handled with care, and we fell short.” He added that OpenAI is exploring enhanced options for users to adjust or disable such features if they prove unhelpful.
The complaints surfaced from ChatGPT users, including those on premium Pro and Plus tiers, who encountered pop-up prompts unrelated to their ongoing discussions. For instance, queries about xAI or BitLocker unexpectedly led to recommendations for fitness sessions via Peloton or shopping at Target, complete with direct links to embedded app integrations.
An OpenAI representative explained to TechCrunch earlier this week that these were experimental prompts aimed at highlighting relevant applications, aligning with the company’s October announcement to integrate app suggestions contextually. Data engineer Daniel McAuley clarified on X that the notifications lacked any monetary exchange, distinguishing them from traditional ads, though he conceded their irrelevance created confusion. The goal, he noted, was to encourage seamless exploration of partner tools, keeping interactions within ChatGPT rather than directing users elsewhere.
OpenAI has yet to specify whether all app promotions or only select ones are being removed, despite inquiries from reporters.
The episode highlights growing tensions as OpenAI grapples with financial demands in the competitive AI landscape. The firm reportedly reached $12 billion in annual revenue by midsummer, yet projections show it spending $115 billion by 2029, with commitments exceeding $1 trillion to advance toward artificial general intelligence. Subscriptions and API access drive most income, but a Financial Times analysis revealed that just 5 percent of ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly users opt for paid plans.
User frustration stemmed not only from the ad-resembling format but also their disconnection from conversation threads, fueling fears of commercialization. ChatGPT product lead Nick Turley countered the uproar on X, asserting no active ad experiments are underway and dismissing shared images as either fabricated or misclassified promotions. He did not elaborate on specifics.
During an August appearance on The Verge’s Decoder podcast, Turley indicated openness to future advertising but stressed the importance of subtlety and user respect. CEO Sam Altman has echoed this nuance, expressing no outright opposition to ads and citing Instagram’s approach as a positive model. However, OpenAI is reportedly postponing ad rollouts and e-commerce tools to prioritize core enhancements, prompted by an internal “code red” amid rivalry from players like Anthropic and Google, where the search giant is now experimenting with ads in its AI-powered search features.
