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OpenAI Turns Off Ad-Like Prompts and Rushes GPT-5.2 Update as Google’s Gemini Surges

The company is refocusing engineering on ChatGPT performance under an internal directive.

Overview

  • OpenAI said there are no live ads in ChatGPT and disabled app suggestions that users mistook for promotions, with executives pledging tighter controls.
  • Multiple reports say OpenAI has accelerated GPT-5.2 with a tentative December 9 announcement to boost speed, accuracy and reliability, though the date remains subject to change.
  • Google’s Gemini 3 earned strong benchmark praise and rising engagement, with reported users at about 650 million monthly, while ChatGPT maintains roughly 800 million weekly users but saw recent daily softness.
  • Sam Altman’s ‘code red’ shifted resources to core ChatGPT quality and delayed other initiatives, including advertising plans flagged in recent app code digs and hiring activity.
  • Investor and legal pressures are growing, with HSBC research highlighting large funding needs and reports of a court order for OpenAI to produce anonymized ChatGPT logs in the New York Times case.