404 Media: ChatGPT ads can target users by prompts, phone number and email
RexDouglass · x · 2026-10-16
In hands-on tests, 404 Media shows OpenAI lets anyone inject ads into ChatGPT sessions targeting users by uploaded email addresses, phone numbers, or device identifiers. Reporter Joseph Cox ran an ad saying 'ChatGPT isn't private — OpenAI hires humans to read users' chats,' targeted at people asking ChatGPT about privacy, AI, and whether chats are private — meaning ad targeting is based on the prompts users type, which many assume are confidential. With roughly 1 billion monthly users, most don't know they're individually targeted. An ad-industry source called it boiling the frog on privacy as OpenAI monetizes its audience.
Related event: Test Shows ChatGPT Ads Can Target Users by Phone Number and Email(2 posts)→
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