Google DeepMind CEO is ‘Surprised’ OpenAI is Rushing Forward With Ads in ChatGPT

DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis questions OpenAI’s early move to place ads in ChatGPT—raising trust and timing concerns in AI assistants.
Matilda
Google DeepMind CEO is ‘Surprised’ OpenAI is Rushing Forward With Ads in ChatGPT
Why DeepMind’s CEO Is Surprised by OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ad Push Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has voiced surprise over OpenAI’s decision to begin testing ads inside ChatGPT—a move that could reshape how users interact with AI assistants. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Hassabis questioned the timing and philosophy behind inserting advertising into a tool designed to act as a personal, trustworthy aide. With ChatGPT boasting 800 million weekly active users, many of whom rely on its free tier, the ad rollout marks a pivotal moment in the commercialization of generative AI. Credit: Axios Hassabis didn’t condemn ads outright—in fact, he acknowledged their role in funding much of today’s internet—but he raised deeper concerns about user trust, assistant neutrality, and whether monetization should come before maturity in AI systems. The Timing of Ads Raises Eyebrows in the AI Community OpenAI’s announcement that it would test ads within ChatGPT came amid mounting pressure to offs…