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>ChatGPT automatically includes the UTM parameter utm_source=chatgpt.com in referral URLs

Doesn't this imply that they're paid via referral bonus?

No, it does not. Lots of sites add utm_source, and sometimes other utm_* codes, so the receiving site is aware exactly where the traffic came from.

Think of it as marketing for the sending site. It gets the attention of the receiving site.

They could, but not necessarily. I think what OpenAI is getting is cooperation - that is, their search engine isn’t blocked. No money needs to change hands.

My guess is that once they're entrenched firmly enough, OpenAI will ask for money. First sell the free thing then once people rely on it enough, start charging.

And ecommerce brands will happily pay up if the conversion data is there.

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