We are likely experiencing a very brief period before AI services become monetized similarly to traditional and online media. Bing briefly tested this in spring; currently, I don’t see ads in the chat. Others, while receiving VC funding, are content with the freemium model and focus on growth, but it’s probably just a matter of time before they monetize free users as well.
Marked advertising in chat is perhaps the best among poor choices: it’s transparent and familiar to users. It will be highly relevant. But I can also envision a sponsored AI product that, at the system message level (“system” in API), will prioritize certain products/companies in relevant chats in exchange for free use. The aggressiveness of how “relevance” will be defined remains a question.
Marketing communication as we know it will definitely change. Currently, AI is immune to branding and marketing communication and is more “rational” than consumers. The Elmex case: I like Elmex toothpaste. But questioning how much their price multiple is justified, I asked AI. The rational response is that for common situations, mechanical plaque removal and some fluoride are key, thus regular toothpaste provides this service similarly. Paying for Elmex now seems irrational. How much will brands built on “marketing value” try to influence AI, or rather, can they afford not to?
Credit: Concept writen by human, text writen by human in Czech, translated to English by AI