People use ChatGPT every day to ask questions, get work done, learn new things, and have simple conversations. Many people also pay for the Plus and Team plans because they want a clean experience with no distractions. So when some users started to see suggestions that looked like ads for brands like Peloton and Target, people became very upset. This small feature quickly turned into a big online debate.

In this blog post, I will break down what happened, why users were angry, what OpenAI said, and what this means for the future of ChatGPT. I will use very simple words so anyone can understand the full story.

What Happened And Why People Became Angry

A few days ago, some users who pay for ChatGPT noticed something strange. They were asking normal questions, and ChatGPT suddenly showed small suggestions that mentioned real companies. These suggestions looked like app recommendations, but to many users, they looked exactly like ads.

For example, a user might be asking a simple question about exercise, and ChatGPT would show a card that said something like “Try Peloton”. Another user saw something that mentioned Target. These suggestions made people feel uncomfortable. Many people said it felt like hidden ads inside a paid service.

Users quickly posted screenshots on social media, and the issue became a trending topic. People said things like “This looks like an ad”, “Why am I seeing this if I pay for the service”, and “Do not turn ChatGPT into an ad engine”.

The anger spread fast because users felt it was unfair and sneaky.

OpenAI Responds And Says They Are Not Ads

After the backlash grew, OpenAI leaders began to respond. The head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, said there were no ads in ChatGPT. He said there were no tests for ads either. He added that some screenshots online were not real or were misunderstood.

He explained that the company was only testing ways to show apps that are built on the new ChatGPT app platform. These apps are small tools created by developers. OpenAI said there was no money involved in showing these apps. They said no company was paying them to display the suggestions.

Even with this explanation, many users still felt confused. They did not care what OpenAI called the feature. They simply felt it looked like ads.

Mark Chen Admits The Company “Fell Short”

Later that day, Mark Chen, who is the Chief Research Officer at OpenAI, gave a more honest reply. He said he agreed with users. He said anything that feels like an ad should be handled with care. He admitted that the company did not do a good job with this feature.

He also confirmed that OpenAI had turned off the feature. He said the team wants to improve the model so it does not show suggestions that feel out of place. He added that the company is working on new controls so users can turn off such suggestions completely if they do not want to see them.

Mark Chen’s message was more open and calm, and many users felt it was a better response.

Why This Small Issue Became A Big Deal

People are very sensitive about ads inside AI tools. Many people pay for ChatGPT so they can avoid ads. So when anything looks like an ad, users immediately get worried. They fear that the tool may become filled with brand messages or commercial content in the future.

Trust is very important in AI. If users feel that the assistant is pushing products, they lose trust. They start to think the tool is not neutral anymore.

This is why even a small suggestion that mentions a brand can feel like a big problem.

The Bigger Story Happening Inside OpenAI

There is also a larger story behind this issue. Earlier this year, OpenAI hired Fidji Simo, a former Facebook and Instacart executive. Many people believed she would help the company build an advertising business. So when these brand suggestions appeared, users assumed it was the first step toward ads.

But recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that Sam Altman sent a memo inside the company. The memo was called “Code Red”. It said the company should focus on improving ChatGPT and pause other projects. Advertising was one of the projects that was pushed back.

This means OpenAI is trying to make the product better before thinking about how to make more money from it.

What This Means For The Future

For now, OpenAI has turned off app suggestions. The company says they want to bring them back only when they work in a better way. They want users to have full control over what they see.

This incident also shows how careful AI companies must be. Users have high expectations. Even a small feature can upset people if it looks like a hidden ad. Trust can be lost very quickly.

The future will depend on how OpenAI handles transparency, user controls, and communication. If they listen to users, they can avoid this type of problem.

The Bottom Line

This whole situation shows two simple things. First, users want a clean experience. Second, companies must be very clear when they introduce new features. People will not accept anything that looks like ads inside a paid service.

OpenAI says it has learned from this mistake. Now everyone will watch closely to see what changes they make next.

Also Read:How OpenAI and Google See AI Changing Go To Market Strategies