OpenAI Enables Marketing Cookies by Default for Free ChatGPT Users
Original: OpenAI Enables Marketing Cookies by Default for Free ChatGPT Users
Why This Matters
Signals OpenAI's monetization strategy shift toward advertising revenue from free users
OpenAI updated its privacy policy to enable marketing cookies by default for free ChatGPT users. The company will share limited identifiers like email addresses and cookie IDs with advertising partners to promote OpenAI services on third-party platforms and measure ad effectiveness.
OpenAI notified users on April 30 about privacy policy changes allowing the use of cookies to promote OpenAI products on external websites. The company clarifies that ChatGPT conversations remain private and aren't shared with marketing partners, but limited identifiers such as cookie IDs or device IDs may be shared with select partners. Testing revealed marketing settings are enabled by default for free accounts but disabled for paid Plus and Enterprise users. Users can opt out through Settings > Data Controls > Marketing Privacy. The move supports OpenAI's advertising expansion, including ads at the bottom of ChatGPT outputs rolled out in February. OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson emphasized that conversation privacy remains unchanged, with the update only clarifying existing marketing practices to help users discover OpenAI products.