AI Chatbots Embrace Ads: Revenue vs. Privacy Debate Heats Up

• Leading AI firms like OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Perplexity are integrating or testing ads in chatbots to generate revenue.
• OpenAI's ChatGPT now displays ads for free and low-cost users, aiming to balance spending with new income streams.
• Rival Anthropic criticized OpenAI's move, emphasizing its brand's focus on safety and data security.
• Data privacy is a major concern, with Google's DeepMind head Demis Hassabis stressing the importance of user trust.
• Analysts predict AI assistants could capture up to 2% of the online advertising market by 2030, with brands focusing on Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO).