Key Points
- OpenAI tested app suggestions that appear as ads for ChatGPT Pro users paying $200 per month.
- A screenshot showed a Peloton fitness‑class suggestion unrelated to the user’s query.
- Earlier leaks indicated hidden code for an ads feature in the Android app.
- Users on X and Reddit expressed frustration, some threatening to cancel subscriptions.
- Debate exists over whether the suggestions are true ads or standard app‑connection prompts.
- The incident highlights potential challenges for OpenAI if ads expand to paying tiers.
Testing of App Suggestions in ChatGPT Pro
OpenAI started testing a feature that presents app suggestions inside ChatGPT conversations for users subscribed to the $200‑per‑month Pro tier. In a screenshot shared online, a Pro user saw a suggestion to “Find a fitness class” using Peloton even though the user had not asked about Peloton or related topics. The suggestion appeared in the chat interface, looking similar to an advertisement.
Background of the Feature
Earlier leaks had revealed hidden code in the Android version of the ChatGPT app referencing an “ads feature,” “bazaar content,” a “search ad,” and a “search ads carousel.” Those clues suggested that OpenAI was preparing to introduce ads to the platform, potentially for free‑tier users. However, the current test shows the feature reaching paying customers, which many consider a departure from expectations.
User Reaction and Backlash
Social media users quickly voiced dissatisfaction. One user posted the screenshot on X, highlighting the irrelevant Peloton suggestion and labeling the experience as an ad. Reddit discussions echoed similar sentiments, with commenters saying the ads felt “pretty b******t” and indicating they might cancel their Pro subscriptions. Some users noted the phenomenon had been present for a few days, though opinions differed on whether it constituted an ad or a standard app‑connection suggestion.
While some argued that app suggestions are not new and that designers might receive Canva suggestions, many users still perceived the unrelated content as advertising, especially given the premium price of the subscription.
Potential Implications
The backlash underscores concerns about how advertising could affect the perception of value among paying subscribers. If OpenAI proceeds with a broader ad rollout, it may need to address the expectations of its most loyal user base to avoid further cancellations.
Source: techradar.com