OpenAI Refutes Recent ChatGPT Ad Screenshots

Nick Turley, OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT, responded to circulating screenshots that appeared to show advertisements within the chatbot. Turley stated on X that “there are no live tests for ads” and that “any screenshots you’ve seen are either not real or not ads.” The clarification came after a post from a former xAI employee that featured an image suggesting a shopping option for Target inside a ChatGPT conversation.

Company Leaders Emphasize Careful Handling

OpenAI’s chief research officer, Mark Chen, also weighed in, noting that the company “fell short” in this instance and that “anything that feels like an ad needs to be handled with care.” Chen announced that the suggestion feature that produced the ad‑like content has been turned off while the team works to improve the model’s precision. He added that OpenAI is looking at better controls so users can dial down or turn off such suggestions if they are not helpful.

Internal Perspective on Potential Advertising

Daniel McAuley, another OpenAI executive, responded to the earlier post by describing the screenshot as an example of an app integration the company announced in October, rather than a live advertisement. Turley later reiterated that if OpenAI decides to pursue ads in the future, the approach will be thoughtful and designed to respect the trust users place in ChatGPT.

Future Outlook and User Trust

The discussion underscores OpenAI’s commitment to maintaining user confidence while exploring new monetization avenues. While code referencing ads was discovered in a beta version of the Android app, OpenAI has not confirmed any imminent rollout of advertising. The company’s statements suggest a cautious, user‑focused strategy moving forward.

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