A recent conversation with ChatGPT led to an unwelcome suggestion for a Peloton app, sparking backlash from OpenAI customers. Many feared that advertisements had arrived, even for those paying for the service. OpenAI quickly clarified that the app suggestion was not an advertisement, but rather a poorly executed attempt to integrate a new app discovery feature within conversations.
The incident gained attention after Yuchen Jin, co-founder of AI startup Hyberbolic, shared a screenshot on social media. The screenshot showed ChatGPT suggesting a connection to the Peloton app during an unrelated conversation. Jin noted he was a paid subscriber to ChatGPT’s Pro Plan, which costs $200 per month. At that price point, users do not expect to encounter ads.
The post was viewed hundreds of thousands of times and shared widely, leading many to believe OpenAI was testing ad insertions in its paid product. Users complained that paying customers, especially, should not have to see such app suggestions. One person even mentioned that ChatGPT persistently recommended Spotify to them despite being an Apple Music subscriber.
OpenAI’s data lead for ChatGPT, Daniel McAuley, addressed the concerns. He stated that the Peloton placement was not an ad and had no financial component. It was simply a suggestion to install Peloton’s app. He acknowledged that the lack of relevancy to the conversation made it a bad and confusing experience, and confirmed that OpenAI is working to improve the suggestions and overall user experience.
A company spokesperson also confirmed to TechCrunch that this was part of a test for surfacing apps in ChatGPT conversations. They referred to OpenAI’s October announcement about its new app platform, which stated that apps would fit naturally into user conversations. The platform allows users to discover apps when ChatGPT suggests one at the right time or by calling them by name.
However, in this case, the suggestion did not fit naturally. The user was discussing a podcast featuring Elon Musk and the topic of xAI, with no relation to health or fitness. The insertion of Peloton was unhelpful and distracting.
Even if the suggestion had been relevant, users might still perceive it as an advertisement, especially since it directs people to a paid product. The inability to turn off these suggestions adds to the feeling that they are intrusive.
This user sentiment could impact OpenAI’s broader goal of creating an integrated app experience within ChatGPT. If users find the suggestions unwanted, they may consider switching to a competitor’s chatbot to avoid them.
Currently, ChatGPT apps are available to logged-in users outside of the EU, Switzerland, and the U.K., and the integrations are still in pilot testing. OpenAI partners with various app makers, including Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, and Zillow.