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OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads with Sponsored Agents

159 points · 181 comments · vertigoruntime

  1. pluc · · focus · HN ↗
    How else are they to monetize text outputs? This was always the plan and it's going to get much worse (or better depending on which side of the fence you're on). Google did the same thing when it controlled web indexation: ads, sponsored results and SEO. All of these things will be coming to agents: you will be monetized or you will be paying not to be.
    1. wat10000 · · focus · HN ↗
      They could stick to taking payment in exchange for service like some weird old-fashioned business, but I guess that doesn't get the sort of growth that justifies a trillion-dollar valuation.
      1. DonsDiscountGas · · focus · HN ↗
        It has for Anthropic. Consumer vs enterprise though I guess.
        1. bogzz · · focus · HN ↗
          Without the pesky training costs or stock compensation taken into account, yes.
    2. bogzz · · focus · HN ↗
      By making more money from inference subscriptions than they lose on compute, training, and other costs?
    3. baggachipz · · focus · HN ↗
      > How else are they to monetize text outputs?

      I thought AGI was supposed to replace most knowledge workers and they'd pocket the savings that their customers enjoyed by not having to pay a work force. That's what their valuation is based upon.

    4. probably_wrong · · focus · HN ↗
      > How else are they to monetize text outputs?

      Sam Altman famously said in 2024 "I kind of think of ads as a last resort for us for a business model." So perhaps we could ask him first what his other plans were and why they didn't work.

      1. IncreasePosts · · focus · HN ↗
        To be fair to sam, he doesn't really have any experience running a successful company not dependent on VC backing
    5. dabinat · · focus · HN ↗
      > you will be monetized or you will be paying not to be.

      Or you’ll be paying and being monetized.

      1. downrightmike · · focus · HN ↗
        Prime, netflix etc
    6. downrightmike · · focus · HN ↗
      It's just text, how expensive can it be?
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