OpenAI has turned off promotional app messages in ChatGPT after users complained that the chatbot displayed ads for services like Peloton and Target beneath unrelated conversations. Chief research officer Mark Chen said the company is improving the experience and has disabled the suggestions. Data engineer Daniel McAuley clarified that the messages were not ads because there was no financial component, but acknowledged relevance problems. The move comes amid broader discussions about monetizing ChatGPT and user frustration over the perceived ad‑like content. Read more →

OpenAI quietly began testing app suggestions that resemble advertisements within ChatGPT for users paying the $200 per month Pro tier. The suggestions, such as a fitness‑class recommendation from Peloton, appeared unrelated to the conversation and triggered immediate negative reactions on social media and Reddit. Users expressed frustration, with some threatening to cancel their subscriptions. The rollout follows earlier leaks that hinted at an ad feature in the Android app, but the current implementation has raised concerns about the experience for paying customers. Read more →