OpenAI has announced plans to launch a new subscription tier for ChatGPT, its popular AI-powered chatbot. The new offering, called ChatGPT Business, is designed for enterprise customers and professionals who require greater control over their data.
OpenAI says that ChatGPT Business will follow its API’s data usage policies, which means that end users’ data won’t be used to train its models by default. The service is expected to be available in the coming months.
ChatGPT has proven to be a major success for OpenAI, with the bot reaching an estimated 100 million monthly active users just two months after launch. However, the service is expensive to run, with operating expenses that OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman has described as “eye-watering.” To explore potential new revenue streams, OpenAI launched plug-ins for ChatGPT in March that allow it to access third-party knowledge sources and databases.
OpenAI also announced new features for all ChatGPT users aimed at addressing regulatory concerns about data privacy. Users can now turn off chat history, which means that conversations won’t be used to train and improve OpenAI’s models, and won’t appear in the history sidebar. The new features also allow users to export their ChatGPT data.
OpenAI has faced regulatory scrutiny in several European countries over its data practices, with Italy banning ChatGPT last month over possible privacy violations. France, Spain, and Germany have also launched investigations into OpenAI and its commercial services, with a focus on GDPR adherence. The new privacy features for ChatGPT users are likely aimed at addressing these concerns and demonstrating OpenAI’s commitment to data privacy and user control.
