tech
February 12, 2026
OpenAI researcher quits over ChatGPT ads, warns of "Facebook" path
Zoë Hitzig resigned on the same day OpenAI began testing ads in its chatbot.
TL;DR
- Zoë Hitzig, a former OpenAI researcher, resigned citing concerns about the company's introduction of ads in ChatGPT.
- Hitzig compares OpenAI's ad strategy to Facebook's past, warning of potential exploitation of sensitive user data shared with the chatbot.
- She suggests that the economic incentives for advertising could lead OpenAI to override its own privacy rules.
- The debate over AI ads is intensifying, with rivals like Anthropic positioning themselves as ad-free.
- Hitzig proposes alternative funding models for AI, including cross-subsidies and independent data oversight.
- Recent departures from OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI highlight researcher burnout and frustration with the rapid commercialization of AI.
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