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ZDNET's key takeaways
ChatGPT is reportedly starting its ad test for some users.
Anthropic's recent Super Bowl ads make fun of ads inside AI chatbots.
Let's compare which AI chatbots have ads as of right now.
OpenAI will reportedly begin testing ads in ChatGPT today for Free and Go users, and the reaction has been … a lot.
Although the company has been clear about who will see ads and how they will appear in conversations, that has not stopped at least one rival from piling on the criticism. In addition to a blog post clarifying its stance on ads, Anthropic went loud, rolling out four Super Bowl commercials that mock an unnamed AI for suddenly pivoting from sycophantic responses to hard sells.
Also: Is ChatGPT Plus still worth your $20? I compared it to the Free, Go, and Pro plans - here's my advice
In one spot, an aspiring entrepreneur asks for input on their business idea, but is pretty quickly pushed toward a loan. In another, a student seeking essay help is steered to buy jewelry to celebrate the "momentous occasion" of their deadline. A third ad shows an adult asking how to talk to his mom, only to be told to "connect with other older women" on a dating site. The last ad tells a user chasing six-pack abs to buy 1-inch insoles to "help short kings stand tall." If you laughed at these, so did Sam Altman.
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