Well, well, well. It looks like our favorite free therapist, homework doer, and recipe-for-one generator is about to get a glow-up. And by glow-up, I mean the digital equivalent of someone tapping you on the shoulder during a deep conversation to ask if you—ve heard about the extended warranty on your soul. A leak suggests OpenAI is prepping to roll out ads on ChatGPT for the public.

That—s right. The great, ad-free sanctuary of the internet, where we go to ask about existential dread and how to remove red wine from a carpet, might soon be punctuated by a cheerful banner for meal kit delivery. The rumor mill, primarily a very invested Reddit thread with over 700 upvotes, is buzzing with the kind of resigned chaos you—d expect. We all knew this day would come. Nothing is sacred, not even our AI-powered conversations about whether a hot dog is a sandwich.

The real humor here is imagining the ad placements. You—re pouring your heart out to ChatGPT about a tricky work email, and it suggests a reply that—s both professional and cutting, followed immediately by an ad for stress-relief gummies. Or you ask for a haiku about the moon, and the response is sponsored by a telescope company. The targeting could be impeccably awkward. —I see you—ve asked about symptoms of anxiety for the third time today. Have you considered this calming weighted blanket—?

It—s the ultimate test of the AI—s conversational flow. Will it seamlessly integrate the ad like a smooth influencer, or will it be as jarring as your uncle sharing a conspiracy theory at Thanksgiving? Can we get a premium plan where the ads are just the AI subtly trying to sell us on its own superior life choices? —A human would struggle to craft this cover letter. I, however, excel. For just $20 a month, I will also subtly undermine your career rivals.—

So get ready. Our pristine playground of prompt engineering is getting a corporate-sponsored swing set. Just remember, when an ad for life insurance pops up after you ask ChatGPT about the meaning of it all, that—s not a glitch. That—s just the algorithm, baby. And it—s worryingly perceptive.