Unsurprisingly, OpenAI has raised their valuation to $500 billion. Notably, this past Friday the company made that last component a core piece of its business strategy, releasing ChatGPT Go accounts worldwide. While they’re testing the waters for ad revenue to begin with targeted advertising, these $8 per month accounts have benefited users with added features and touchpoints. CEO Sam Altman emphasized that the pursuit of advertising aligns with OpenAI’s mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity.
On the very same day, OpenAI dropped a blog post explaining its strategy. They announced plans to begin testing ads in the United States soon for ad-supported free and Go tiers of ChatGPT. This decision follows closely on the heels of OpenAI’s efforts to find other sources of revenue and funding after raising billions of dollars for its own operation. The visionary tobacco-free campaign is well underway. Altman promised users that the business is still committed to never serving ads to users it determines are under age 18.
Maybe that’s what HSBC was alluding to when they recently reported that OpenAI is already at a mind-bending $200 billion deficit. This potentially explains the enormous financial duress the company is likely under. Competition in the artificial intelligence sector is fierce. OpenAI’s plan is to shore up its financials without abandoning its nonprofit charter.
Here’s how senior TechCrunch writer Lucas Ropkek described the effect of such an insidious advertising strategy. It puts consumers and the future of the tech industry in serious jeopardy. He is particularly passionate about reporting on advancements in artificial intelligence, consumer technology, and venture-backed startups. His perspective helped us understand how these changes would shape user experience and market dynamics. Those with other questions can reach Ropkek at lucas.ropek@techcrunch.com.
The panels will explore the cutting-edge of technology and artificial intelligence, the promise of AI to change the advertising industry, and more. This event will likely serve as a platform for industry leaders to explore the future of AI and advertising, especially in light of OpenAI’s recent announcements.