Once, ChatGPT promised users honest and straightforward conversations without intrusive banners or hidden commercial interests. Each year, artificial intelligence becomes more complex, and its maintenance demands more resources. Now, a new reality is emerging: hints of advertising integration have been discovered in the code of the Android app. This could fundamentally change the familiar experience of interacting with a virtual assistant.
The first warning signs appeared not in official statements but in technical details. Engineer Tibor Blaho noticed references to “ads feature,” “search ad,” and “ads carousel” in a test version of the app. These elements are linked to certain types of queries that resemble searches. It’s still unclear whether ads will appear in all conversations, but the architecture for their introduction is already in place. OpenAI has not commented on the situation, but users are already asking: will AI-powered conversations remain free from commercial influence?
A Financial Challenge
ChatGPT quickly gained popularity but still hasn’t turned a profit. Maintaining and developing language models, especially the latest generations, requires massive computing power and ongoing investment. In these conditions, introducing ads might be a way to keep the service free for a broad audience. However, such a move would inevitably affect quality and user trust.
While previously a conversation with artificial intelligence resembled a personal exchange, it now risks turning into a commercial search. Answers may start with sponsored recommendations, and some advice may be guided not by the user’s needs, but by the advertiser’s interests. This undermines the very neutrality that led millions to choose ChatGPT.
Privacy concerns
The introduction of advertising in smart assistants is not just an economic challenge, but also an ethical one. Search history, personal interests, and even communication style could become the basis for personalized ads. This raises concerns about the security of personal data and the transparency of the service. Users want confidence that their questions will not become a tool for gathering information for third parties.
Many believe that free services cannot exist without monetization. The freemium model has long been the standard for digital platforms. But when it comes to trust in artificial intelligence, the issue of transparency becomes especially sensitive. People want to know when and why their conversation turns into an advertising platform.
Changing trust
The introduction of advertising could make ChatGPT’s answers less impartial. Users may no longer be sure they’re getting objective information, rather than the result of a business deal. This changes the nature of interactions with AI: instead of an assistant focused on the user’s interests, there’s now a mediator between users and advertisers.
It is still unknown when exactly ads will appear in ChatGPT and to what extent. However, the mere fact that preparations are underway has already sparked heated debate among users and experts. Many fear that the familiar way of interacting with AI will become a thing of the past, giving way to commercialization and a loss of trust.
User Expectations
Users do not expect all digital services to be free. But they want to clearly understand when terms are changing and why. In the case of ChatGPT, transparency is especially important: if advertising becomes part of the platform, this should be communicated openly, not kept from users until the very last moment.
In today’s world, the value of honest dialogue with artificial intelligence is growing ever more significant. People are looking not only for quick answers but also for the assurance that their conversation won’t be interrupted by a commercial offer. The future of ChatGPT is, at its core, a question of trust—where the boundaries lie between humans and machines.
In case you didn’t know, ChatGPT is a product developed by OpenAI, a company founded in 2015 in San Francisco. The organization specializes in developing and implementing advanced language models and artificial intelligence technologies. In recent years, OpenAI has become a leader in the AI field, and ChatGPT is now the most popular virtual assistant in the world. The company is actively rolling out new features and exploring ways to monetize its services to ensure sustainable growth.
