OpenAI says ChatGPT isn’t testing ads, despite a wave of user complaints suggesting otherwise.
The clarification comes after several ChatGPT users reported seeing prompts recommending third-party apps like Peloton, Target, or AllTrails during unrelated conversations. The suggestions appeared in both free and paid accounts, leading some users to assume OpenAI had quietly introduced advertisements inside the chatbot.
OpenAI says that’s not what happened.
According to the company, the suggestions were part of an ongoing feature experiment tied to ChatGPT’s app integrations. These integrations allow users to connect outside services to perform tasks like tracking workouts or browsing shopping catalogs. The prompts surfaced automatically when ChatGPT recognized a potential use case, but they were not paid placements and were not sponsored by the brands mentioned.
The company confirmed that the feature test was run on “a small percentage of users” and has since been limited due to confusion.
The moment the prompts appeared, social feeds filled with screenshots and frustration. Many users compared the messages to in-chat ads, raising concerns that OpenAI was moving toward an advertising-driven model. Some premium subscribers said the prompts were especially alarming because they expected an ad-free experience.
OpenAI told TechCrunch the experiment was never intended to resemble ads and that user feedback will determine how the feature evolves. The company also reiterated that it is not selling ad slots or running promotions inside ChatGPT.
The confusion highlights a broader tension as AI assistants become more capable and more interconnected. As models learn to recommend external tools and services, users are increasingly sensitive to where the line sits between helpful automation and advertising.
For now, OpenAI says that line hasn’t moved.
The company has not announced any plans to introduce paid advertising into ChatGPT and maintains that the platform’s revenue strategy remains centered on subscriptions and enterprise partnerships—not ad placement.
Still, the incident suggests a new reality for AI platforms: even a small UX experiment can spark a major conversation about trust, transparency, and the future business model of AI-powered tools.
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