ChatGPT Ads: What We Know So Far
OpenAI announced plans to test ads in ChatGPT. Here’s what they’ve confirmed.
Current Status
Ads are not live yet.
OpenAI plans to begin internal testing in the coming weeks for Free and Go users in the US. If you’re eligible for the test, you’ll see in-product information when it begins.
Who Will See Ads
Will see ads: – Free tier users – Go tier ($8/month)
Will not see ads: – Plus – Pro – Business – Enterprise – Edu
During testing, ads will not show to users under 18. Ads won’t appear near sensitive topics like health, mental health, or politics.
How Ads Will Appear
Ads will be clearly labeled and separated from ChatGPT’s responses.
They’ll show at the bottom of answers when there’s a relevant sponsored product. Users can dismiss any ad and say why.
OpenAI mentioned a future feature: users may be able to ask questions directly to advertisers through the ad interface.
OpenAI’s Stated Principles
From their announcement:
Answer independence: Ads do not influence ChatGPT’s responses. Answers are based on what’s most helpful to you.
Conversation privacy: Conversations stay private from advertisers. OpenAI states they do not sell user data to advertisers.
Choice and control: Users can turn off personalization and clear data used for ads at any time.
Long-term value: OpenAI says they do not optimize for time spent in ChatGPT. They prioritize user trust over revenue.
The Numbers
ChatGPT has approximately 800 million weekly active users.
OpenAI states 95% are on the free tier. That’s roughly 760 million weekly users on versions where ads will appear.
What We Don’t Know
- Exact launch date for external testing
- Pricing for advertisers
- Targeting options
- Which markets beyond the US will have ads
- How the ad placement system will work
For Advertisers
OpenAI hasn’t opened the platform to advertisers.
Their statement: “At this stage, we’re focused on learning from early testing in the coming weeks. We’ll have more to share as we learn from early use and feedback.”
No application process or waitlist has been announced.
Why This Matters
New ad platforms have historically offered lower costs early on – before major advertisers enter.
Google Ads started this way. Facebook Ads did too. Early advertisers on both platforms reported low costs and high returns before competition increased.
Will ChatGPT follow the same pattern? Unknown. It’s a different format than search or social feeds.
For now, there’s nothing to act on. When OpenAI announces how to participate, businesses will need to decide if it’s worth testing.
We’ll update this when more information is available.
