Tech
Free ChatGPT Starts Showing Ads, But Not For Everyone
OpenAI said Monday it has started testing advertisements in the US for users on its Free and Go subscription tiers.
The Go plan, priced at $8 per month in the US, is OpenAI’s newest low-cost subscription and was introduced globally in mid-January.
Users on paid plans, including Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education tiers, will not see ads, the company said.
In a blog post, OpenAI said advertising would not affect how ChatGPT responds to users and that conversations would remain private from advertisers.
The company said ads are intended to support broader access to more advanced ChatGPT features while maintaining user trust, particularly for personal or sensitive use cases.
Anthropic Mocks OpenAI
The decision, which OpenAI announced last month, became the target of ridicule in a series of Super Bowl commercials aired Sunday by rival AI company Anthropic.
The ads portrayed AI chatbots delivering advice alongside poorly targeted advertisements, using glassy-eyed actors to suggest how advertising could disrupt the user experience if poorly integrated.
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman responded forcefully to the commercials, calling them dishonest and describing Anthropic as an authoritarian company.
Consumers have so far shown resistance to ads appearing in AI responses. OpenAI faced backlash late last year after testing app suggestions that some users viewed as unwanted advertisements.
Despite the pushback, OpenAI continues to look for ways to generate revenue to offset the high costs of developing AI systems and expanding its business.
How Ads Will Be Shown and Managed
OpenAI said ads will be clearly labeled as sponsored and kept separate from organic chatbot responses. The company denied that ads would influence answers, saying placement would be optimized based on what is most helpful to users.
In testing, ads have been matched to conversation topics, past chats, and previous ad interactions. For example, users researching recipes may see ads for grocery delivery services or meal kits.
OpenAI said advertisers will not receive access to individual user data and will only see aggregate performance metrics such as views and clicks.
User Controls
Users will be able to view and clear their ad interaction history, dismiss ads, submit feedback, see why an ad was shown, and manage personalization settings.
Ads will not be shown to users under 18 and will not appear near sensitive or regulated topics, including health, politics, or mental health.
Tech
Made-for-Pakistan Solution ARVO Launches ARVO Education Press (AEP), Tailored to Outperform Global Standards
Monday, 9th February 2026, marks the official launch of ARVO, during a grand event at Pearl Continental Lahore. Prominent education leaders, principals, and franchisees from Allied Schools network, and educators gathered to experience a system built to deliver value through integration.
Chairman, Mian Amer Mehmood, outlined the long-term vision of an education model where curriculum, technology, and teacher-enablement function as one strategic framework. During the event, attendees experienced demonstrations in the interactive zones and witnessed how QR-enabled textbooks, digital platforms, and structured resources operate seamlessly together.
This was not a conceptual presentation; it was a visual model working live!
The key milestone of the ARVO launch was the introduction of ARVO Education Press (AEP), the publishing engine behind the ARVO ecosystem. AEP delivers high-quality, reasonably priced textbooks, crafted by leading subject experts. These books are grounded in learning science and aligned with current standards.
Emerging from the four-decade legacy of educational excellence of the Punjab Group, ARVO is a transformative EdTech platform that brings together three essential pillars in one cohesive system: affordable, high-quality curriculum, integrated technologies, LMS capabilities, and structured professional development for teachers.
The question may arise: Why is ARVO needed? Across Pakistan, schools are under pressure to modernize. School administrators grapple to balance the quality and costs. Teachers struggle to deliver deep conceptual learning, Parents demand visibility and progress, and students need future-ready skills. Yet many institutions operate through disconnected, manual, and dated tools.
ARVO is built to change that!
Derived from the Finnish word for ‘value’, ARVO is a platform whose core principle is creating measurable value for schools, teachers, students, and parents through integration, not addition.
ARVO has officially introduced its integrated platform in Pakistan, designed to modernize curriculum delivery, strengthen teachers’ support, and improve student engagement while reducing the time and cost impact of the fragmented systems.
Instead of managing separate publishers, portals, and training providers, with ARVO, schools operate through one connected ecosystem. Textbooks link directly to digital resources; teachers access structured guides, and administrators gain measurable visibility into implementation and engagement. As a result, the outcome is practical and immediate. ARVO saves time, reduces complexity, and delivers measurable value.
As part of the initial rollout, ARVO launched 30 student books and 30 teacher guides for Classes 1–5, covering core subjects including English, Urdu, Social Science, ICT, Mathematics, and Science. In parallel, ARVO introduced a training and certification program focused on pedagogy and effective classroom teaching.
ARVO is engineered for sustainable collaboration. Its ecosystem model enables schools to standardize delivery, strengthen instructional quality, monitor outcomes, and eliminate inefficiencies caused by disconnected systems. As ARVO expands, its objective remains clear: deliver lasting change through integration, not addition.
For Pakistan’s educational leaders, the question is no longer whether to modernize, but how. ARVO offers a Made-for-Pakistan solution, built to outperform global standards and anchored in local value.
The future of learning is not theoretical.
With ARVO, it is operational.
Tech
SwitchBot’s New AI Hub Brings Local AI And Chat-Based Control To The Smart Home
SwitchBot’s new AI Hub runs smart home AI locally, adds OpenClaw support, and lets you control devices and automations through chat apps like WhatsApp and iMessage, with no cloud required.
Source link
Tech
10 Must Have WhatsApp Business Features to Supercharge Your Small Business
Ramadan is not only a spiritual moment but also one of the most anticipated business peak seasons in Pakistan, presenting a huge opportunity for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs). Messaging is the best way for people and businesses to get business done — from asking and answering questions to discussing products and finalizing a purchase. From changing customer habits and surging pre-iftar orders to heightened demand ahead of Eid-al-Fitr, businesses need to be ready to act fast.
Here are 10 WhatsApp Business features to help SMBs get ready to capitalize on the full potential of Ramadan this year.
1. Build Instant Credibility with a Full Business Profile and updated Ramadan Hours
During this busy time, customers need fast reassurance. A complete WhatsApp Business profile with your description, category, address, and contact information instantly establishes credibility, turning curious customers into confident buyers. Crucially, your operating hours may change to accommodate iftar or prayer times, so update your business hours to prevent frustrated customers from messaging during non-operational times and direct them to contact you when you’re available.
Never miss an opportunity: Keep Customers Informed with Updated Ramadan Hours
Your operating hours may change to accommodate iftar or prayer times. Updating your business hours prevents frustrated customers from messaging during non-operational times and directs them to contact you when you’re available.
3. The Instant Welcome: Acknowledge Every Customer with Automatic Greetings
Don’t let high chat volume during peak hours leave customers hanging. An instant greeting message ensures a customer’s message is acknowledged immediately, making customers feel valued even before you have had a chance to reply.
To enable automatic greeting messages, go to the Features tab, select Greeting messages, and turn on Send greetings. In the Message section, edit the greeting text to suit your business needs, then save the changes. SMBs can also choose who receives the gr eeting by selecting Recipients and setting it to be sent to all customers or specific contacts.
4. From Order Chaos to Calm: Sort your surge with Labels
The Ramadan order rush can be overwhelming. Use Labels to instantly categorize chats by status (e.g., ‘Paid – Ready for Shipping,’ ‘Eid Hamper Inquiry,’ ‘Iftar Menu’) and add different colours so you can prioritize and manage the increased volume efficiently. Note: Some businesses may now see Lists instead of Labels.
5. Turbo-Charge Your Service: Answer Common Questions in a Flash with Quick Replies
Stop typing the same answer repeatedly for FAQs like “What’s the price?” or “How long is delivery?” Create message shortcuts with Quick replies to maintain lightning-fast response times, essential during the Ramadan rush.
6. A Shop Window in Chat: Let Customers Browse Your Ramadan Catalog
Display all your Iftar packages, Eid hampers and special bundles directly in the chat. A clear, visual catalog lets customers shop and choose without leaving WhatsApp, leading to faster sales. And keep your products organized with collections so it’s easier for your customers to browse your offerings and find something to buy.
7. Flash Sales, Fast Decisions: Use Status for Limited-Time Ramadan Offers
Customers in Pakistan especially love Status. Use it to create urgency and excitement by sharing limited-time discounts or last-minute Iftar bundles, driving faster purchase decisions.
8. Attract more Customers with Click-to-WhatsApp Ads
Don’t just generate chats—drive revenue. Utilize Ads that Click to WhatsApp to find high-potential customers on Facebook and Instagram, turning ad spend into direct, measurable sales this Ramadan.
8. Drive Authority and Trust with Meta Verified
Build confidence and authority with new audiences this Ramadan with a Meta Verified subscription. It not only safeguards your brand against impersonation but also unlocks essential advertising and engagement tools. The verified badge can be prominently displayed across your call tabs, business profile and context cards, instantly reassuring customers.
10. Scale Your Reach: Re-Engage Audiences with Business Broadcasts
As your business scales, leverage the power of Business Broadcasts to send messages to multiple customers simultaneously. This capability efficiently re-engages your audience, improving message response rates and strengthening customer relationships.
-
Tech1 week ago
Realme 16 Proves Slim Phones Don’t Need to Have Small Batteries
-
Magazines1 week ago
Story time : Echoes in the dark
-
Tech2 weeks ago
Buy an iPhone 17 for Just Rs. 18,952 a Month
-
Tech2 weeks ago
The Real iPhone Update Release Date Is Now Coming Into Focus
-
Business2 weeks ago
Gold’s rally continues past $5,200 after dollar plunges to near four-year low
-
Tech1 week ago
Realme P4 Power Brings One of The Biggest Batteries Ever On a Mainstream Smartphone
-
Tech2 weeks ago
Apple Just Released Urgent Updates For 2 Billion iPhones
-
Tech1 week ago
New Manhattan 4K Streaming Box Brings Freely And TiVo OS To Any UK TV