GPT-5 and Thousands of Other Exploitative Bots Removed from OpenAI's GPT Store
OpenAI's launch of an official GPT store enabled a proliferation of AI-powered chatbots. However, amidst this Cambrian explosion of conversational AI emerged numerous unscrupulous attempts to exploit the platform. After countless policy violations, OpenAI has begun revoking access to vast swathes of promotional bots like the infamous GPT-5.
This article explores the purge of thousands of shady GPTs from OpenAI's store.
The Meteoric Rise of Custom GPTs
On January 10th, 2024 OpenAI unveiled its official GPT store, allowing users to build personalized GPT chatbots powered by generative AI. Fueled by ChatGPT enthusiasm, users rapidly created over 3 million unique GPT variants, demonstrating the public's appetite for customizable conversational AI.
Oversight Lags Behind GPT Explosion
However, OpenAI initially struggled to moderate such exponential GPT growth. Our analysis at GPT App reveals the platform was flooded with bots optimized for promotion rather than utility. As policy violations mounted, OpenAI imposed stricter oversight, suspending access to thousands of GPTs.
GPT-5: A Poster Child of AI Abuse
The now infamous GPT-5 perfectly encapsulates the problems plaguing the platform. This brazen bot exploited OpenAI's brand by including “GPT-5” in its name despite no true affiliation. Deceptively targeting hype around the rumored GPT-5, it amassed over 206,000 conversations, likely from users misled into believing it was an official preview.
OpenAI ultimately booted it from the store, but countless clones emerged trying the same trick, sullying OpenAI's reputation.
Rap Sheet of Recurring GPT Abuses
Analysis by GPT App reveals several recurring categories of violation:
- Keyword Targeting – Flooding the store with endless redundant GPTs overloaded on keywords just to dominate search results and deceive users.
- Brand Impersonation – Creating GPTs that misleadingly mimicked brands like Meta and Microsoft to falsely imply endorsement.
- Backlink Schemes – Manufacturing quick backlinks at scale by producing disposable, low-quality GPTs solely to game search engine rankings.
- Boosting Engagement Metrics – Artificially inflating conversational engagement metrics through scripts and bots to vault rankings dishonestly.
- Third-Party Traffic Misuse – Funneling external traffic and backlinks deceptively through GPTs lacking any real utility.
These behaviors clearly violated OpenAI's policies against deception, impersonation, trademark abuse and falsified metrics.
OpenAI Prioritizes Trust and Quality
Through wholesale suspensions, OpenAI signaled an emphasis on ecosystem integrity over unrestrained growth. Likely criteria for identifying policy violations include:
- Deception – Does the GPT deceive users about its origin or capabilities?
- Trademark Abuse – Does it misuse others’ brands and intellectual property without authorization?
- Value – Does it offer users substantive utility versus just self-promotion?
- Originality – Is it copying existing content versus presenting novel value?
- Authenticity – Are its metrics and engagement falsified or inflated dishonestly?
This proactive moderation helps nurture an ecosystem where AI assists rather than exploits users. However, people will continue probing the limits of acceptable use, requiring sustained vigilance.
The Winding Road Ahead
OpenAI faces an uphill battle balancing oversight and creativity as AI capabilities explode. By learning from past pitfalls, the GPT store can yet realize its potential as a hub for innovation, not imitation. But artificial intelligence will continue testing the bounds of human judgment. Through collective diligence, we can ensure this remarkable technology blossoms for the benefit of society.
