Demis Hassabis, chief executive of Google DeepMind, said he was taken aback by the move by OpenAI to add advertising revenue to its ChatGPT platform. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he emphasized that Google has no current plans to implement similar advertising strategies in its AI chatbot. OpenAI is preparing to beta test ads as a potential new, lucrative revenue stream for the world’s most popular chatbot. This particular chatbot now has a whopping 800 million weekly active users.
Importantly, Hassabis again emphasized that his team is not under short-term pressure from Google to pull any trigger on advertising either. So we don’t feel any urgency to go make that kind of knee-jerk reactionary decision right away,” he said. He highlighted the need for a highly detailed, scientific product development process from the start. This kind of leapfrogging has been a hallmark of Google’s legacy.
He’s still doubtful concerning short term advertising implementation. Though he’s not entirely sold on the future of ads, even he believes they can have potential if done wisely. He discussed how important it is for user’s trust to be maintained in these AI assistants. He wondered, “Where do ads come in—what would that look like in your ideal chatbot that helps people in a trustworthy way?” Trust is key here, so what would that look like?
While Google’s core business heavily relies on advertising revenue, Hassabis maintains a cautious stance towards its implementation in AI-driven products. He said, “Look, ads, there’s nothing wrong with ads… ads funded most of the consumer internet. And if executed thoughtfully, they can move the needle significantly.”
OpenAI’s path marks a major departure in monetization strategy for AI chatbots, and stands in stark opposition to Google DeepMind’s efforts like ProjectBard. Hassabis’s comments underscore an increasing worry among game developers. Users are rightfully concerned about their experience and trust in what’s emerging in this new AI technology.