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The emergence of AI assistants has provided users with a novel, ad-free search experience. This raises a fundamental question: how can these powerful tools be sustainably funded without sacrificing user utility? History shows that advertising often infiltrates digital platforms, potentially turning helpful AI into targeted advertising engines. The crucial challenge lies in establishing a business model where AI genuinely serves users’ interests, rather than prioritizing advertiser revenue. A discussion on Reddit’s r/artificial intelligence subreddit highlighted this concern, exploring potential solutions and pitfalls. The original post can be found here: [https://old.reddit.com/r/artificial/comments/1nluvzg/ai_chatbots_need_ad_revenue_to_be_profitable_what/]