OpenAI clarifies: screenshots of ads in ChatGPT aren’t live tests, suggestions paused

OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, has debunked circulating screenshots that appeared to show ads inside the ChatGPT app, saying there are “no live tests for ads” and that the images are either not genuine or not advertisements. The company clarified that some app integrations — like shopping links — may look ad‑like, but they are distinct from a formal ad program.

OpenAI engineers have temporarily turned off the type of suggestion that produced the contested screenshots while they work on improving the model’s precision. Chief research officer Mark Chen acknowledged the company “fell short” and said anything that feels like an ad “needs to be handled with care.” OpenAI also said it is exploring better controls so users can dial such suggestions down or turn them off entirely.

Key points

• No live ad tests: OpenAI says it isn’t currently running ad tests in ChatGPT; screenshots circulating online were not proof of a live ad rollout.
• App integrations vs. ads: Some in‑chat suggestions (for example, shopping links) come from announced app integrations and can resemble ads, but the company distinguishes them from paid advertising.
• Feature paused: The suggestion type that raised concerns has been disabled while OpenAI refines model behavior and adds user controls.
• Future caution: OpenAI says any future ad plans would be pursued thoughtfully to protect user trust.

Context and implications

Rumors of ads in ChatGPT have circulated since researchers found references to “ads” in a beta app build earlier this year. Monetization pressure and the search for sustainable revenue models make ad experiments unsurprising, but user trust is a critical factor for conversational assistants, where unexpected promotions can feel intrusive.

OpenAI’s current approach — pausing questionable suggestions and promising controls — signals sensitivity to user experience and privacy concerns. Still, the incident highlights how quickly interface changes or leaked screenshots can spark concern, and how important clear communication and granular user controls will be if monetization features are introduced.

What to watch next

• Official statements or product notes from OpenAI about ad policy or monetization plans.
• Whether references to “ads” in app code reappear in future beta builds and how OpenAI labels or separates integrations from paid promotions.
• User control rollout — toggles or settings that let users opt out of promotional suggestions.

For official updates, check OpenAI’s blog and release notes: OpenAI news.

Discussion: Would you be comfortable seeing ads or partner suggestions inside ChatGPT if you could opt out — or should conversational AI remain ad‑free by design?