ChatGPT extends into cross-site ad tracking

OpenAI’s ad monetisation push is reportedly moving beyond what happens inside ChatGPT. A new report says its advertising activity can include tracking user behaviour across other websites through an ad collection system. That changes the conversation for any business considering ChatGPT in customer-facing workflows, especially where ads, agents, or logged-in users are involved. Read the original report for the details currently available.

The practical issue is not simply whether advertising appears in an AI product. It’s what data may be collected around the interaction, where that data flows, and whether your privacy notices, consent processes, and vendor reviews cover it. If an AI agent helps a customer research, compare products, or take an action on another site, leaders need a clear view of the data trail attached to that journey.

For operators, this is a prompt to ask sharper questions before expanding AI use. Which users are exposed to ad-supported features? What tracking is switched on by default? Can it be controlled? Does your legal and compliance team know how the tool is being used in practice, not just what the contract says?

This is the kind of thing we build into an AI command centre, giving teams a place to see where AI tools are being used and where governance questions need attention.