AI Chatbot Ad War: Google, Anthropic Resist as OpenAI Experiments with Ads in ChatGPT

• A sharp divide emerged at Davos over monetizing AI chatbots, with OpenAI testing ads in ChatGPT for free and lower-tier users in the US.
• Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei expressed reservations, prioritizing user trust and long-term product strategy over immediate monetization.
• Hassabis warned that blending ads with personalized AI could erode user confidence and questioned OpenAI's timing, suggesting revenue pressure.
• Amodei argued against rushing monetization, citing geopolitical risks and the industry not being in a survival-driven race.
• OpenAI defends its decision, stating ads won't compromise objectivity or privacy, driven by rising operational costs and a lack of a legacy ad business like Google's.

Why It Matters: Leading AI companies are divided on integrating ads into chatbots, balancing monetization needs with user trust and product integrity.