Skip to main content

Snapchat stuffing ads in ChatGPT-powered ‘My AI’ and knockoff TikTok feature

Snap has heard the feedback about its not-always-welcome My AI feature and found the solution: ads!

Pinning SnapchatGPT to the top of everyone’s chat list recently became a magnet for 1-star reviews in the App Store. In response, Snapchat is stuffing ads in My AI for the users who actually like the new feature.

This story is supported by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates five different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing businesses and schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage, and protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment, management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is banner_mosyle_9to5.png

Advertising is the first first attempt to monetize the Snapchat bot. Removing My AI or even just unpinning the chat thread is a privilege enjoyed only by Snapchat+ subscribers.

My AI won’t be populated with banner ads, though. Engadget reports that Snap announced an experimental sponsored links ad format during today’s NewFronts advertising event.

ChatGPT differs from search results by presenting conversational answers to questions rather than a ranked list of website links. The format has been praised for its lack of advertising to monetize when Google search results can be buried below sponsored results.

Snap is maintaining the conversational flow in its effort to monetize OpenAI’s technology. Advertisers will be able to buy sponsored links that will be surfaced when relevant to the conversation with My AI. The feature is described as experimental.

Meanwhile, Snap is graduating another experiment to full-on deployment. Snap is rolling out Spotlight ads globally after a limited test run in 2022. Spotlight is the TikTok alternative short video feature inside Snapchat.

Could sponsored links be the future of making money off chat bots? Share your thoughts below.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications