In today’s Digest, we look at the new ChatGPT ads; BBC teaming with YouTube; and Singapore changing laws to ease data sharing.

Ads come to ChatGPT

In a move that surprised no one, OpenAI has confirmed it will begin testing advertisements in ChatGPT. Ads will be trialled with free users in the United States, appearing in clearly labelled slots above or below chatbot responses. Paid tiers (Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise) remain ad-free.

OpenAI insists ads won’t influence the chatbot’s answers, won’t be displayed alongside sensitive topics such as health or politics, and user conversations won’t be shared with advertisers...

BBC to air programmes on YouTube 

The BBC is set to expand its presence on YouTube, marking a significant shift in strategy as US tech platforms continue to attract younger UK audiences. Under a planned agreement, the broadcaster will create bespoke programming for YouTube, with shows later distributed across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. News-focused formats will also be developed specifically for YouTube, according to a source familiar with the discussions, as part of a broader effort to address the spread of misinformation and disinformation across social media platforms.

The YouTube-first programming will be aimed primarily at younger audiences and is expected to mirror elements of BBC Three’s youth-focused output, alongside children’s content, sports coverage, and news formats. 

Singapore law changes to ease data sharing

Singapore is set to update its data governance framework, with proposed legal amendments that would allow government agencies to share data with authorised external parties, such as social service organisations, to improve the delivery of public services. 

Experts say the changes would ease existing bottlenecks, where agencies must either obtain individual consent or establish that data sharing is in the public interest, a process that can be slow and legally uncertain, even for well-intentioned initiatives. The amendments aim to provide greater legal clarity, while ensuring external partners are held to standards comparable to those applied to public agencies.