This week, OpenAI began testing advertisements in ChatGPT, a move that prompted a former researcher to resign after two years of contributing to the development of AI models. The resigning employee reflects on their belief that they could help guide AI developers in anticipating the challenges that AI technologies could create. However, they express a profound disappointment with OpenAI's current approach, stating that the company seems to have ceased asking critical questions they once aimed to address.

The former researcher acknowledges that advertisements are not inherently immoral or unethical, recognizing the high operational costs of AI and the potential of ads to provide a crucial revenue source. Yet, they voice deep reservations regarding OpenAI's overall strategy, particularly concerning user trust and transparency. They pointed out that for several years, ChatGPT users have generated unprecedented archives of human frankness, partly because they felt they were engaging with a system without ulterior motives.

By introducing ads into ChatGPT, there are implications for the way users perceive the platform. The resigning researcher warns that this shift may alter the fundamental nature of interaction within AI systems and erode the trust users have developed with the technology. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between commercial interests and user engagement to ensure that the ethical implications of AI are appropriately addressed.