OpenAI Researcher Resigns Over ChatGPT Ads, Warns of ‘Facebook’ Path

Zoë Hitzig, a former OpenAI researcher, publicly announced her resignation from the tech company in a guest essay for The New York Times. Her resignation coincided with OpenAI’s launch of advertisements in ChatGPT, a move she finds concerning.

Concerns Over OpenAI’s Advertising Strategy

Hitzig, who is an economist and a poet, spent two years at OpenAI developing its AI models. She expressed fears that the company’s new advertising strategy might replicate mistakes made by Facebook in the past. In her resignation essay, she stated that she had hoped to assist in addressing potential challenges presented by AI but felt that OpenAI had ceased to engage with vital ethical questions.

Risks Associated with ChatGPT Ads

The introduction of advertisements into ChatGPT has raised significant ethical concerns. Hitzig points out that users often disclose sensitive information, such as medical fears and personal beliefs, under the impression that they were interacting with a neutral entity. This, she argues, creates a problematic “archive of human candor” without precedence.

• Nature of Data: Users share personal experiences believing in the chatbot’s neutrality.
• Previous Mistakes: Hitzig draws parallels between OpenAI’s current actions and Facebook’s early promises about user data control.
• Privacy Erosion: Facebook’s commitments eroded over time, leading to a decrease in user privacy and control.

OpenAI’s Testing of Advertising

In January, OpenAI announced it would begin testing ads for users in the U.S. These ads would be present in the free version of ChatGPT and the $8-per-month subscription plan known as “Go.” Notably, paid subscribers of Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education tiers would be shielded from advertisements.

Implementation Details

OpenAI indicated that the advertisements would be clearly labeled and placed at the bottom of responses. The company insists that these ads will not interfere with the chatbot’s responses. However, Hitzig warns that slipping standards may occur as the company develops its advertising model, potentially undermining the principles it initially established.

Hitzig’s resignation adds to an ongoing debate regarding the ethics of introducing advertisements in AI platforms, highlighting the need for transparency and user protection in the evolving landscape of technology.