@btibor91 (Tibor Blaho) / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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Code in a beta version of the ChatGPT Android app hints at ads
OpenAI hasn't officially commented on the inclusion of ads
iPhone users do have a workaround to avoid ads
The days of ad-free ChatGPT might soon be over, as it appears OpenAI is inching closer toward including advertisements in its popular AI model.
Diving into the code of a recent beta version of the ChatGPT app for Android (version 1.2025.32), a user spotted language that seems to indicate ads might be on the way. In several strings of code that reference "openai.feature.ads," verbiage like "search ad," "search ads carousel," and "ad target" appears.
Also: Is ChatGPT Plus still worth $20? How it compares to the Free and Pro plans
This isn't entirely a surprise. In the first episode of the OpenAI podcast earlier this year, company CEO Sam Altman expressed his thoughts on incorporating advertisements into his product. "I'm not totally against it," he said, adding, "I can point to areas where I like ads." He went on to explain that he thinks Instagram advertisements are "kinda cool," but admitted that they're difficult to get right.
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