OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, is considering adding advertisements to its platform, according to the Financial Times.
CFO Sarah Friar told the newspaper that the company is exploring an ad-supported business model but plans to be careful about where and when ads appear. In a subsequent statement, Friar clarified that there are currently no active plans to introduce ads, but the idea is being discussed within the company.
The Financial Times report also noted that OpenAI recently hired Shivakumar Venkataraman, a former Google executive with significant experience in advertising. This move further fuels speculation about the company’s potential shift towards an ad-based revenue model.
OpenAI has primarily relied on subscription fees to fund the development of its generative AI tools. However, the immense costs associated with creating and operating these models have raised concerns about the company’s long-term sustainability. With investor funding finite, OpenAI is exploring alternative revenue streams.
One potential option is to introduce advertising, a move that has been met with mixed reactions. OpenAI founder Sam Altman expressed reservations about this approach, stating in a recent Harvard Business School fireside chat that it would be a “last resort.”
While he acknowledged the possibility of incorporating ads, he emphasized his general dislike for advertising and his concern about the potential negative impact of combining AI with ads.
