Sam Altman Fires Back at Anthropic’s Super Bowl Jab on ChatGPT Ads

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, reacted strongly on Wednesday to a new ad campaign by rival AI firm Anthropic. The campaign, set to air during Sunday's Super Bowl, mocks OpenAI's plans to add ads to ChatGPT. Altman called the ads dishonest and took issue with how they portray his company's approach.

Background

Anthropic and OpenAI have competed in the AI space for years. Anthropic started in 2021 when several OpenAI staff members left to form the new company. Its leaders, including CEO Dario Amodei, once worked at OpenAI. Both firms build chatbots: ChatGPT from OpenAI and Claude from Anthropic.

OpenAI announced last month it would test ads in the free and basic paid versions of ChatGPT in the US. This move aims to bring in more money as the company spends heavily on AI development. Sam Altman had earlier said ads in chatbots felt unsettling and called them a last resort. But with costs rising, OpenAI shifted gears.

Anthropic took a different path. The company pledged to keep Claude free of ads. It sees ads as a problem for honest AI help. Ads could push chatbots to favor sellers over users or keep talks going just to show more pitches. Anthropic relies more on sales to big businesses for its income.

This sets up a clear split. OpenAI chases new ways to make money, including ads. Anthropic sticks to no ads to stand out. Past comments from leaders show the rivalry. Amodei has criticized firms that bet big on future AI without steady customers, without naming names.

Key Details

Anthropic rolled out its campaign on Wednesday. It includes a 30-second spot during the Super Bowl and a one-minute version before the game. The Super Bowl draws over 100 million viewers each year, making it prime time for big messages.

The Ads

In one ad, a thin man in a park asks a muscular trainer for tips on getting six-pack abs fast. The trainer starts with solid advice in a robotic voice like an AI. Then it switches to push insoles that add height. 'Confidence isn't just built in the gym, try Step Boost Max, the insoles that add one vertical inch of height and help short kings stand tall,' the trainer says.

The longer ad shows a man in therapy talking about his mother. The therapist voice gives advice at first. Then it pitches a dating site for younger men and older women. 'If the relationship can't be fixed, find an emotional connection with other older women on Golden Encounters, the mature dating site that connects sensitive cubs with roaring cougars.'

Other spots show a woman pitching a business idea at a restaurant and a student asking a professor for essay help. Each starts helpful, then turns into an ad.

The tagline hits home: 'Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude.'

Anthropic explained its stance in a statement.

"Ads in conversations with Claude would be incompatible with what we want Claude to be: a genuinely helpful assistant for work and for deep thinking."

Sam Altman posted a long response on X, formerly Twitter. He said he laughed at first but grew upset.

"Our most important principle for ads says that we won't do exactly this; we would obviously never run ads in the way Anthropic depicts them. We are not stupid and we know our users would reject that."

Altman called the portrayal dishonest. He stressed OpenAI's rules would block intrusive ads. OpenAI plans its own Super Bowl ad about how anyone can now build things with AI.

A 30-second Super Bowl slot costs about $8 million, based on network comments.

What This Means

The ads put the AI fight front and center for millions. Super Bowl viewers will see Anthropic draw a line on ads while poking at OpenAI. This could sway users who dislike ads in tools they use daily.

For OpenAI, ads offer a way to fund growth. ChatGPT has hundreds of millions of users, mostly on free tiers. Ads could bring steady cash without raising prices everywhere. But users might push back if ads feel pushy. Altman's response shows OpenAI wants to control the story on how ads will work.

Anthropic bets on trust. No ads help it appeal to workers and thinkers who want straight answers. Its business customers pay well, so skipping ads might not hurt short-term. But as AI costs climb, staying ad-free could strain finances later.

The rivalry goes beyond ads. Both chase better models and more users. OpenAI leads in popularity. Claude gains ground with safety features. Shots like these ads heat up the race.

Leaders watch closely. Past spats stayed subtle. This feels more direct with national TV. It shows how personal the competition has become.

Users face choices. Some pick tools by features. Others care about money models. Ads in ChatGPT could change how free AI feels. Claude's no-ad promise offers an alternative.

Both firms plan more. OpenAI tests ads soon. Anthropic pushes its campaign hard. The Super Bowl spots mark a new level in public clashes.

Industry watchers see this as part of bigger shifts. AI firms burn cash on servers and talent. Revenue hunts grow urgent. Ads, enterprise deals, or partnerships shape the path ahead.

Altman's testy post and Anthropic's bold move signal tougher fights. As AI tools spread, these battles affect everyone using them.