tech
December 3, 2025
OpenAI slammed for app suggestions that looked like ads
OpenAI clarified that the app suggestion was not an advertisement, but instead a poor attempt to integrate an app discovery feature within conversations.
TL;DR
- ChatGPT users, including paid subscribers, reacted negatively to an app suggestion for Peloton during an unrelated conversation.
- The backlash stemmed from fears that OpenAI was introducing ads into its paid services.
- OpenAI clarified the suggestion was not an ad but a test of an app discovery feature.
- Daniel McAuley, OpenAI's data lead for ChatGPT, acknowledged the poor user experience due to the lack of relevance.
- OpenAI is working on improving the app suggestion feature and user experience.
- The company aims for apps to integrate naturally into conversations, as announced with its app platform in October.
- Users cannot currently disable app suggestions, raising concerns about intrusiveness.
- This user sentiment could impact OpenAI's goal of integrating apps within ChatGPT as a replacement for traditional app stores.
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