Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said he was surprised by OpenAI’s decision to introduce ads in ChatGPT. According to TechCrunch, Hassabis made the comments during an interview with Axios at Davos. He stressed that his team was thinking through the advertising question very carefully.
Concerns About Trust and User Experience
Hassabis acknowledged that ads have funded much of the consumer internet. He said there was nothing wrong with ads when done well. But he questioned how they fit into the assistant model.
The DeepMind leader explained that chatbots serve a different purpose than Google Search. Search already understands user intent and can show useful ads. Chatbots are meant to become helpful digital assistants that know about users and help with many aspects of their lives.
Learning From Past Mistakes
OpenAI recently began testing ads to generate revenue from its 800 million weekly active users who don’t pay for subscriptions. The company faces growing infrastructure and energy costs. Last month, OpenAI tested a feature that suggested apps during user chats. People reacted negatively and said the suggestions felt intrusive. OpenAI turned off the feature shortly after.
Hassabis said his team did not feel pressure to make knee-jerk decisions about ads. Google has no current plans to add ads to its AI chatbot. The company will monitor how users respond to ads in other AI services.
Focus on Personalization Instead
Google announced new personalization features for its AI Mode today. Users can opt in to have Gemini’s AI tap into their Gmail and Photos for tailored responses. This approach mirrors how Gemini’s app recently added a Personal Intelligence feature.
Hassabis said DeepMind’s history has been to take a scientific and rigorous approach to each step. He suggested there might be a way to do ads right later on. But for now, the focus remains on building trust with users.
The comments highlight a key difference in strategy between Google and OpenAI. While OpenAI moves quickly to monetize through ads, Google takes a more cautious approach. The debate centers on whether ads can coexist with the trust users need in their AI assistants.
