Chat-GPT startet mit Werbung in der Schweiz. Selbst beim Abo für acht Franken gibt es jetzt Anzeigen

ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot, began displaying advertisements in Switzerland as of Monday. This change applies not only to the free version but also to the entry-level plan priced at around eight Swiss francs. Users who opt for the more expensive subscription plans can continue using the chatbot without seeing any ads. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has made several promises regarding the ads, such as ensuring that the AI responses are not influenced by them.

Advertisers are not supposed to gain access to chats or personal information. The AI service is also not meant to prolong users' time on the platform. However, industry experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of this new advertising format, especially within the chatbot's conversation flow. Sophie Hundertmark, a researcher from the University of Lucerne, observed that users generally do not want ads and prefer banner ads over those embedded directly in the chatbot's dialogue.

The acceptance of ads varies depending on the industry, with travel and software sectors showing higher tolerance compared to finance, health, and fashion. For companies, the introduction of ads on ChatGPT requires a cautious approach, as ads may appear intrusive and counterproductive. In Switzerland, there is strong willingness to switch to paid subscriptions to avoid ads.

This could limit the reach of advertising messages to those who prioritize cost savings. OpenAI has assured advertisers that their messages will not influence the AI's responses or target specific user groups. However, the process for advertisers to control which user groups see their messages remains unclear. Currently, companies are investing heavily in optimizing their websites and content to be more appealing to AI chatbots.

They also aim to appear in the right context, which requires significant effort. For some industries like finance, appearing in front of affluent individuals is more important than reaching those at risk of bankruptcy. Hundertmark believes that optimizing websites for AI chatbots is more crucial than displaying ads on them. The situation for OpenAI is concerning, with recent leadership changes and competition from other AI companies, particularly Anthropic, which dominates the market.

The lack of attention to detail in OpenAI's developers raises concerns about future developments and potential issues such as deceptive advertising, privacy scandals, and the phenomenon of "Enshittification," where services degrade over time.