OpenAI has begun laying off employees working on artificial intelligence (AI) when testing ads on ChatGPT. One of the researchers, Zoe Hitzig, announced her departure from the company after two years, during which she was involved in shaping approaches to creating AI models, pricing and initial safety standards. This was reported by The New York Times (NYT).
According to her assessment, the launch of the advertisement has raised doubts about the company's strategic direction. Hitzig notes that users have been creating a uniquely clear array of data for several years, as they view chatbots as a tool with no potential benefits. According to this former employee, using advertising based on that data could create risks of user manipulation, as people share personal information about their health, relationships and worldview with chatbots.
OpenAI says the ads will be clearly labeled, placed at the bottom of answers, and will not affect the content of search results. At the same time, Hitzig expressed concern that in the future the economic model could encourage a departure from these principles.
OpenAI emphasizes that advertising can become an important source of income because developing and operating AI requires significant costs. The industry also noted that subscription costs for advanced AI services have reached $200-250 per month, significantly exceeding the cost of regular digital subscriptions.
Experts are discussing possible alternative funding models, including cross-subsidizing access to AI from enterprise customers, creating independent controls over the use of user data, and transferring control of user data to separate entities acting on their behalf. Critics of the current strategy say the industry needs to find a balance between making technology accessible and protecting users from the potential pressure of advertising mechanisms.
