OpenAI quietly updated its terms of service for users in the United States at the end of April. The company now defines ChatGPT as an advertising platform. Users of the free plan and the ChatGPT Go subscription, at $8 per month, agree that their conversations will be analyzed to show personalized ads. The algorithm uses the history of queries and ad views, but advertisers only receive aggregated statistics.
Personal data and external contacts under OpenAI's radar 🔍
The experimental advertising feature is now commercial. Additionally, users can upload their address book to find contacts who use ChatGPT. This grants OpenAI access to contact information of people who do not use their products, with no possibility to opt out. The system analyzes query history and ad views to personalize the experience. Advertisers do not receive personal data or chat history, only aggregated statistics.
The address book, the new passport to advertising 📖
Now you can upload your address book to find friends on ChatGPT. What they don't tell you is that OpenAI also gets to know your contacts who never used the service. They cannot opt out. So, if your great-aunt receives an ad for adult diapers in her email, don't blame the algorithm. Blame your cousin for uploading the family address book without permission.