Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is raising alarms over OpenAI’s decision to introduce advertisements within its ChatGPT platform. In a pointed move, he has reached out to the heads of several technology giants, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Snap, and xAI, to inquire if they have similar intentions. Markey’s letters emphasize the potential risks, highlighting concerns around consumer protection, privacy issues, and the safety of younger audiences with the integration of ads into AI chatbots.

OpenAI plans to commence testing advertisements for users accessing the free version of ChatGPT in the upcoming weeks. These ads will manifest as “sponsored” products or services at the conclusion of chatbot interactions. The company has clarified that the ads will be tailored to the conversation context, yet it assures that they won’t target users under 18 or appear in discussions related to physical and mental health or political topics.

Despite these precautions, Markey warns that introducing advertisements within AI platforms like ChatGPT could herald a significant and possibly perilous shift in the advertising industry. He argues that users’ emotional bonds with AI chatbots might be exploited, turning these relationships into marketing channels. Furthermore, Markey references OpenAI’s assertion that conversational interfaces offer more than static messages and links, which he believes could blur the line between genuine content and advertising, making it more challenging for users to discern between the two.

Privacy concerns also loom large in Markey’s critique. He insists that AI firms should refrain from leveraging users’ personal information—ranging from intimate thoughts to health inquiries—for targeted advertising. Even though OpenAI has stated it will not display ads during sensitive discussions, Markey questions the possibility of this data being used for ad personalization in future interactions.

“AI companies have a responsibility to ensure that AI chatbots do not become another digital ecosystem structured to covertly manipulate users,” Markey asserts. He has given OpenAI, along with the other companies, a deadline of February 12th to respond to questions regarding their advertising strategies in AI chatbots and the measures they are implementing to safeguard users.