* Axios article
Exclusive: DeepMind CEO "surprised" OpenAI moved so fast on ads
https://www.axios.com/2026/01/21/chatgpt-ads-google-gemini-demis-hassabis
# Part of the content is a translation of Gemini 3.0 Flash.
As Silicon Valley races to monetize AI chatbots, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, told Axios in an interview that he was "somewhat surprised" by how quickly OpenAI rolled out ads for ChatGPT.
Hassabis, a Nobel laureate and a leading authority in the global AI field, said there are "currently no plans" to introduce ads into Google Gemini. He also pointed out that rushing to introduce ads into AI assistants could erode user trust.
"There's nothing inherently wrong with advertising. Advertising has funded a significant portion of consumer internet," Hassabis told Ina Fried at the Axios House in Davos on Wednesday.
"But if you see chatbots as helpful assistants, as technology that works for individuals, then there's a question about how advertising fits into that model." He added, "I don't think anyone has a perfect answer to that yet."
Hassabis emphasized that his team is "very carefully" considering advertising and will be watching user responses to OpenAI's changes. However, he also stated that he doesn't "feel any immediate pressure to make knee-jerk decisions."
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https://x.com/axios/status/2013955172112724278
