OpenAI to test visual ads in ChatGPT image generation

OpenAI said it plans to test visual advertisements during image generation in ChatGPT for users in the United States later in October, beginning with a select group of advertisers. The company said the ads will show products or services in use or illustrate experiences associated with them, while remaining separate from the images users ask ChatGPT to create. The test will place the format within ChatGPT’s image-generation experience. OpenAI said advertisements will be clearly labeled and will not affect the chatbot’s answers. The company has not yet reported results from the planned test, so how the placements will appear in practice remains to be seen. OpenAI also said it has safeguards intended to keep ads away from conversations it considers sensitive, emotionally vulnerable or otherwise unsuitable for advertising. It gave personal health and mental well-being as examples of sensitive subjects. The company says the safeguards assess the conversation before an ad is displayed; the reports do not provide independent results showing how effectively those protections work.