ChatGPT's In-Chat App Suggestions Stir Confusion Among Paid Users

A recent in-chat suggestion by ChatGPT to use the Peloton app triggered concern among some OpenAI customers who worried that advertisements were making their way into the product, even for those paying for the highest subscription tier.

On May 1, Yuchen Jin, co-founder of AI startup Hyperbolic, posted a screenshot on X showing ChatGPT recommending the Peloton app during a conversation about a podcast featuring Elon Musk and xAI. Jin is a subscriber to OpenAI’s $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro Plan and noted that he was not discussing health or fitness when the suggestion appeared. The post drew more than 462,000 views and prompted backlash from several users who speculated that OpenAI was inserting paid promotions into AI conversations.

The image raised eyebrows because it appeared to push a commercial app in contextually irrelevant dialogue. Jin’s screenshot was widely reshared, reflecting concerns that OpenAI was introducing app pitches in its flagship AI product. Multiple users expressed frustration, emphasizing that paid tiers should not include suggestive content that resembles advertising.

In response, Daniel McAuley, a data lead for ChatGPT at OpenAI, replied on X to clarify that ChatGPT’s suggestion was not an ad. “There’s no financial component,” McAuley wrote. He said it was simply a prompt to install the Peloton app but acknowledged that “the lack of relevancy makes it a bad/confusing experience.” He added that OpenAI was continuing to iterate on app suggestions and user interface.

A company spokesperson also confirmed that the chat suggestion came from an ongoing pilot to surface third-party apps within conversations. This feature was announced in October 2023 as part of OpenAI’s app platform launch. At the time, OpenAI said that apps would be recommended during chats and offer interactive elements according to user input.

However, in Jin’s case, the context of the conversation had nothing to do with Peloton or physical health. This misalignment led users to question both the system’s logic and the transparency of its motives.

Others chimed in with similar examples. Another user said ChatGPT kept recommending Spotify despite being an Apple Music subscriber. These interactions fed a growing perception that app suggestions might function as implicit product placements.

Critics also noted that there is currently no option to disable app suggestions. That lack of control raised concerns about user experience, especially for customers who pay for premium access. ChatGPT’s app recommendations appear only for logged-in users outside of the EU, Switzerland, and the UK as part of the ongoing pilot.

OpenAI has partnered with multiple companies to provide app integrations within ChatGPT. These include well-known names such as Booking.com, Expedia, Canva, Coursera, Figma, and Zillow. Partner apps allow users to access services directly within conversations using natural language.

While these integrations aim to replace mobile apps and streamline user workflows, unsolicited or irrelevant suggestions could undermine that goal. As user expectations shift in response to AI-driven tools, OpenAI faces pressure to define the boundary between helpful functionality and intrusive promotions.

The episode highlights a sensitive balance in product design: how to surface useful tools without triggering user skepticism. For now, OpenAI says it will continue to refine the experience. But paying customers are signaling that context and control matter as much as innovation.