Claude Stays Ad-Free Forever: A Business Model That Respects You
Anthropic commits to keeping Claude permanently free of advertising, arguing that ad-driven incentives fundamentally conflict with building AI that serves users rather than advertisers.
The Commitment
Anthopic has made an unusual promise: Claude will never show advertisements. In an industry where the dominant model harvests attention and sells it to advertisers, this is significant.
Why Ad-Free Matters
Advertising-funded AI has structural conflicts: keep users engaged even against their interest, collect data for targeting, shape choices toward paying products, maximise time on platform rather than helping efficiently.
An AI funded by subscriptions has different incentives: be genuinely helpful, respect time, protect privacy, earn trust.
The Democratic Dimension
Ad-funded AI in political contexts is dangerous. Imagine an assistant that subtly steers political conversations toward advertiser outcomes. Democratic infrastructure must be free from commercial manipulation.
What Citizens Can Do
Support ad-free AI services. Demand transparency about funding. Advocate for regulation preventing advertising in civic AI. Recognise that if you are not paying, someone else is -- and ask who.