OpenAI has just spoken out to clarify the recent application suggestion messages in ChatGPT, after many users, especially paid users, reported that these suggestions look like advertisements from brands like Peloton or Target.
The company representative affirmed that there were no direct advertising or advertising testing on the platform, but also admitted that this way of expressing was misunderstanding.
Mark Chen - Research Director of OpenAI - said that the company has not performed well in the way it communicates messages to users recently.
He admitted that any advertising color element needs to be done extremely carefully so as not to harm the trust of users.
We have turned off this suggestion while continuing to improve the accuracy of the model, Chen said.
He also said that OpenAI is considering adding options so that users can limit or completely turn off this suggestion if they feel uncomfortable.
Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT, also issued a notice confirming that the screenshots spread about advertising in ChatGPT are not real or not advertised.
Turley stressed that if OpenAI launches advertising in the future, the company will take a cautious approach, putting user trust first.
The controversy is actually due to OpenAI's trial of displaying apps built on the ChatGPT App Platform launched in October.
The company insists there is absolutely no financial element in these suggestions. However, skeptical reactions from users forced the company to make quick adjustments.
Notably, amid the controversy, a report from the Wall Street Journal said CEO Sam altman issued a red code message, temporarily prioritizing improving the quality of ChatGPT and delaying the development of other products, including advertising plans.
This shows that OpenAI is choosing to protect user trust rather than rushing to expand its business.
