OpenAI Pulls Back App Suggestions!

Welcome back, folks.

OpenAI disabled app suggestions in ChatGPT after paying subscribers accused it of running stealth ads.

The company claims they weren't ads, just poorly executed recommendations. Does anyone actually believe that?

Let’s dive into the details. . .

Today in the “Incredible AI” world:

• ChatGPT Pulls Back on Ad Look-Alikes

• Apple's Chip Mastermind Might Leave

• ByteDance's AI Phone Faces Backlash

• Create Fresh Content with AI in Minutes

• 5 Super-Useful AI Tools You Should Try

• AI Image of the Day

Read Time: 4 minutes

- LATEST DEVELOPMENTS -

OpenAI Pulls Back Misleading App Suggestions:

OpenAI just hit the brakes on something they swore wasn't happening. Paying ChatGPT users started seeing what looked suspiciously like ads for Peloton and Target. The company's now apologizing and pulling the feature entirely.

Things to Know:

• What Went Down: OpenAI's research chief Mark Chen admitted the company "fell short" after subscribers complained about promotional messages popping up in ChatGPT. These weren't random glitches.

• The Official Excuse: OpenAI insists these were app suggestions, not ads, with zero financial involvement. But when your AI assistant starts pitching Target during a BitLocker question, you've got a credibility problem.

• The Skeptical Response: Paying users aren't buying the explanation. One subscriber's response pretty much summed up the mood: "Don't insult your paying users." The pushback was swift and brutal.

OpenAI's handling of this mess reveals a bigger tension. They hired a former Facebook and Instacart exec to build their ads business earlier this year. But a recent internal memo from Sam Altman apparently put ads on the back burner.

Why AI Isn’t Replacing Affiliate Marketing After All

“AI will make affiliate marketing irrelevant.”

Our research shows the opposite.

Shoppers use AI to explore options, but they trust creators, communities, and reviews before buying. With less than 10 percent clicking AI links, affiliate content now shapes both conversions and AI recommendations.

Download the full report

Apple's Chip Wizard is Thinking about Quitting:

Johny Srouji just told Tim Cook something that probably made the CEO's stomach drop. Apple's chip chief is thinking about leaving. And this isn't retirement talk; he wants to join another company.

Things to Know:

• The Man Behind The Magic: Srouji built Apple's entire silicon program from scratch. He's the reason your iPhone and Mac run on Apple chips instead of Intel. Without him, the seamless integration between hardware and software wouldn't exist.

• Apple is Freaking Out: The company is throwing everything at him to stay. Big pay packages, more responsibilities, and even the Chief Technology Officer position. They're basically saying, "Name your price, just don't leave."

• The Catch: Here's the twist. Srouji apparently doesn't want to work under a different CEO. So unless Tim Cook sticks around forever, this exit might be inevitable. And with John Ternus potentially becoming the next CEO, Srouji's future looks uncertain.

This isn't happening in isolation. Apple's AI chief, design head, general counsel, and environmental chief are also leaving. The company's executive team is basically playing musical chairs right now, and everyone's watching to see who stays seated.

ByteDance's AI Phone Gets Blocked Hard:

ByteDance just launched an AI smartphone that lets you control everything with your voice. Sounds amazing, right? Well, China's biggest apps are shutting it down faster than you can say "Hey Doubao."

Things to Know:

• Platform Rebellion: Major Chinese apps like Alipay, Taobao, and Pinduoduo have blocked the phone's AI assistant from accessing their services. They're citing fairness and security concerns about automated interactions on their platforms.

• ByteDance Backs Down: The company quickly scaled back Doubao's capabilities after the backlash hit. Financial apps and gaming platforms are now completely off-limits for the AI assistant's automated functions.

• The Original Vision: The Nubia M153 was designed to let users control everything hands-free through voice commands. Early adopters loved being able to dictate social media posts and navigate apps without touching the screen.

This shows how agentic AI could disrupt existing platform ecosystems when automation clashes with human-first business models. Apps designed for human users aren't ready for AI agents gaming their systems.

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- AI TUTORIAL -

How to Create Fresh Content with AI in Minutes:

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- BEST AI TOOLS -

CapUp: CapUp helps you spice up your video to go viral.

Typefully: Typefully is a powerful content creation AI tool for writing, scheduling, and publishing content on X, LinkedIn, and Threads. Typefully ensures your success as a creator.

RapJam: RapJam is a unique text-to-music generator that is specific to rap.

VoicePen: VoicePen allows you to upload any audio or video file and generate a blog post + transcription using AI.

Vidby: Vidby is a service that uses AI to translate and dub videos with four quality options.

- DAILY POLL AND RESULT -

Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Result:

Q) Should AI assist in space exploration?

• A) Yes, for efficient problem-solving - 98% 👑

• B) No, human astronauts are essential - 2%

- AI IMAGE OF THE DAY -

Ash and Serena Battle Under Night Sky:

Prompt:

"A nighttime Pokémon battle takes place between Ash and Serena. Ash commands Pikachu while Serena battles with Pancham. Nearby, Greninja is amusingly eating ice cream and French fries just outside the white battle line. The glowing white line marks the boundary of the battlefield under the dark sky."

Try this prompt in any decent AI image generator and let me know your result.

Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays

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Read the guide to get your CTV campaign live in time for the holiday rush.

Learn more.

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