Watermarks ahead? OpenAI considers changes for free ChatGPT image tools

While OpenAI has yet to officially announce the change, early reports indicate that unwatermarked image downloads could be limited to ChatGPT Plus users, aligning with its approach to reserve advanced tools for paid subscribers

OpenAI appears to be exploring a watermarking system for AI-generated images in its ChatGPT Android app, based on a recent discovery in the app’s beta version (1.2025.091). AI researcher @btibor91 spotted a string labelled “image-gen-watermark-for-free”, suggesting that free-tier users may soon receive AI images embedded with watermarks—possibly as a way to differentiate usage tiers or discourage commercial use of free-generated content.

While the company has not officially confirmed the update, early speculation hints that only paid ChatGPT Plus users might be able to download unmarked versions of images. This would align with OpenAI’s broader strategy of reserving advanced features and tools for subscribers, enhancing value for paying users while maintaining free access with certain limitations.

ChatGPT perks for students

Alongside this potential policy shift, OpenAI is reportedly working on expanding its services to students. According to early reports, the company plans to offer free access to ChatGPT for college students in the US and Canada. Several new educational tools are also in development, including “Structured Thoughts,” “Reasoning Recap,” and a “CoT Search Tool,” aimed at supporting academic reasoning and productivity. One unidentified tool, listed under the label “l1239dk1,” remains a mystery.

Meanwhile, CEO Sam Altman recently confirmed that while the highly anticipated GPT-5 model is still in the pipeline, two intermediate models—named o3 and o4-mini—will be rolled out in the coming weeks. Altman noted that the delay in GPT-5's launch has allowed the team to significantly enhance its capabilities beyond initial expectations.

Since launching image generation in ChatGPT 4o on April 1, user adoption has skyrocketed. Over 700 million images have already been created, according to COO Brad Lightcap, who described the demand as “a crazy first week.” He also revealed that India has become OpenAI’s fastest-growing market, with more than 130 million users engaging with its visual tools.

As the company continues to innovate and expand, both feature differentiation and market-specific strategies appear to be central to its 2025 roadmap.

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