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OpenAI to Start Offering Chatbot Ads to Advertisers, Report Says

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OpenAI has begun offering advertising placements within its chatbot to a select group of marketers, marking a significant shift in its business model, according to a report by The Information.

The report said OpenAI is inviting dozens of advertisers to participate in a trial period lasting several weeks, with individual spending commitments below $1 million. Ads are expected to begin appearing in early February and will be priced based on the number of views rather than clicks. Reuters could not independently verify the report, and OpenAI did not immediately comment.

OpenAI is reportedly still developing tools that would allow advertisers to buy ads directly through a self-service system. For now, the process is being handled more manually as the company tests demand and format. The move follows OpenAI’s recent decision to begin showing ads to some U.S. users, as it looks to diversify revenue beyond subscriptions.

The push into advertising underscores growing pressure on OpenAI to fund the rising costs of AI development and data center infrastructure. Backed by Microsoft, the company is widely expected to pursue a public listing in the future, increasing the need for scalable and predictable revenue streams.

Meta Turning a Blind Eye to Illegal Gambling Ads, UK Regulator Says

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Britain’s Gambling Commission has accused Meta Platforms of failing to act against illegal online gambling advertisements appearing on its platforms, alleging the company continues to profit from unlawful activity.

Speaking at the ICE Barcelona trade show, Gambling Commission executive director Tim Miller said illegal casino ads are widely visible on Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. He argued that many of these ads promote gambling websites that are not registered with the UK’s GamStop self-exclusion scheme, which allows users to block themselves from online gambling services.

Miller rejected Meta’s claim that it only becomes aware of such ads after being notified, calling that assertion “simply false.” He said Meta’s own searchable advertising library clearly shows advertisers declaring their sites are “Not on GamStop,” adding that if regulators can identify them, Meta can as well.

“It could leave you with the impression they are quite happy to turn a blind eye and continue taking money from criminals and scammers,” Miller said, accusing the company of choosing not to look.

In response, Meta said it enforces strict advertising policies on gambling and gaming and removes ads that violate its rules once identified. A spokesperson said the company is working closely with the Gambling Commission to remove flagged ads and improve proactive detection tools, urging continued cooperation to protect users and legitimate advertisers.

The dispute highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of how major social media platforms monitor and control advertising linked to illegal activities.

Pinterest Shares Plunge 18% as Ad Competition and Tariff Pressures Hit Growth Outlook

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Pinterest shares tumbled 18% on Wednesday after the company issued a weaker-than-expected revenue forecast, raising concerns that the image-sharing platform is losing ground to larger digital advertising rivals amid growing tariff-related pressures. If losses hold, the drop would wipe about $4.36 billion off Pinterest’s market value.

The sharp decline contrasts with strong third-quarter results from advertising heavyweights Alphabet, Meta, and Reddit, all of which reported robust ad spending fueled by AI-powered targeting and larger global reach. Analysts said Pinterest’s smaller scale and slower innovation pace are limiting its ability to compete effectively.

Chief Financial Officer Julia Donnelly cited weaker ad spending in the United States and Canada — Pinterest’s biggest markets — as retailers face thinner margins due to new tariffs. “Larger U.S. retailers are navigating tariff-related margin pressure,” Donnelly said, adding that China-based e-commerce giants such as Temu and Shein have also reduced marketing budgets after the removal of the “de minimis” import exemption.

Pinterest now expects revenue between $1.31 billion and $1.34 billion for the current quarter, with the midpoint slightly below analyst expectations of $1.34 billion, according to LSEG data.

“Performance has been fine, but we struggle to see a catalyst for growth,” said analysts at Piper Sandler. Morgan Stanley added that Pinterest “failed to deliver” in a market increasingly rewarding innovation and upward earnings revisions.

Despite Wednesday’s steep loss, Pinterest shares remain up 13.6% for the year — outpacing Meta’s 7.2% gain over the same period.