OpenAI criticized for app suggestions that looked like ads

ChatGPT’s unwanted suggestion of a Peloton app during a conversation sparked some negative reactions from OpenAI customers. People feared that ads had arrived, even for paid customers. OpenAI, however, clarified that the app suggestion was not an advertisement, but rather a poor attempt to integrate an app discovery feature into conversations.

In a post on Xwhich has since been viewed nearly 462,000 times, AI startup Hyberbolic co-founder Yuchen Jin shared a screenshot in which ChatGPT apparently suggested connecting the Peloton app in an unrelated conversation. Worse yet, Jin noted that he was a paid subscriber to ChatGPT’s $200 per month Pro Plan. At that price, no ads would be expected.

The position, which was shared and saved hundreds of times on Users complained that paying customers, especially, shouldn’t have to see app suggestions like this.

One person also pointed out that they couldn’t get ChatGPT to stop recommending Spotify to them, even though they were Apple Music subscribers.

OpenAI Data Lead for ChatGPT, Daniel McAuley, then jump to the thread clarify that Peloton’s placement was not an advertisement; It was “just a suggestion to install the Peloton app.” He said there was “no financial component” to the appearance of the app suggestion.

However, he admitted that “the lack of relevance” of the conversation made it a bad and confusing experience, and OpenAI was repeating the user’s suggestions and experience.

A company spokesperson also confirmed to TechCrunch that what users had spotted was one of the ways OpenAI had been “testing pop-up apps in ChatGPT conversations.” They pointed out OpenAI announcement in October about its new app platform, where the company noted that the apps would “fit naturally” into users’ conversations.

“You can discover (apps) when ChatGPT suggests one at the right time, or by calling them by name. Apps respond to natural language and include interactive interfaces that you can use directly in the chat,” the post explains.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case here, as the user claims that they weren’t discussing anything health and fitness related. Instead, as the screenshot shows, they had been chatting with the AI ​​about a podcast with Elon Musk, where xAI was the topic being discussed. Inserting Peloton into this experience was pointless and a distraction.

However, even if the app’s suggestion had been relevant, users may have viewed it as an ad, since it directs people to a company’s product that isn’t free. Additionally, users cannot turn off these app suggestions, which can make them feel more intrusive.

This user sentiment could have potential ramifications for OpenAI’s desire to replace the App Store experience and apps running on your phone with built-in apps running within ChatGPT. If users don’t want to see app suggestions, they can choose to switch to a competitor’s chatbot to avoid them.

ChatGPT apps are currently available to registered users outside the EU, Switzerland and the UK, and integrations are still in pilot testing. OpenAI partners with several app makers, including Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Zillow, and others.