According to the Financial Times, OpenAI is considering expanding into advertising. CFO Sarah Friar told the newspaper that the company is considering its advertising business model, but will be “thoughtful” about when and where to advertise. However, in a subsequent statement, she stressed that she had “no active plans to pursue advertising.” But it's clear the idea is being considered. (The FT's report highlights a recent high-profile advertiser, ex-Google's Shivakumar Venkataraman.)
ChatGPT makers have traditionally relied on subscriptions to support the development of generative AI tools. However, the costs of creating and delivering these models are eye-wateringly high, limiting the number of investors willing to tap into this fire into the billions.
Still, the move seems uncomfortable to OpenAI founder Sam Altman. Asked during a recent fireside chat at Harvard Business School whether he might employ advertising to expand access options, he said it would be “a last resort…OpenAI doesn't consider advertising at all.” “I don't like it, but I don't like it,” he told the participants. I think advertising and AI are uniquely disturbing to me. ”