KEY POINTS
- OpenAI plans to introduce ChatGPT ads without altering answers, the company said.
- The test targets free users and the low cost Go plan.
- The shift reflects pressure to fund massive data center spending.
OpenAI said Friday it will begin testing ChatGPT ads inside the free tier and its $8 a month Go plan in coming weeks.
A move aimed at boosting revenue as the San Francisco company prepares for a potential public offering and spending on computing infrastructure.
The rollout marks the first broad effort to monetize ChatGPT through display style placements rather than subscriptions.
For OpenAI, the experiment ties user growth to advertising demand while promising to keep responses independent from sponsors, a pledge that will shape trust in conversational search and assistance.
OpenAI has long relied on subscriptions and enterprise tools for developers, hospitals and financial firms.
But most users will see ChatGPT ads, limiting revenue. The company disclosed last year that sales reached $13 billion and could triple this year.
Advertising inside chat interfaces poses design and regulatory challenges. Unlike search pages, chatbots generate continuous prose, leaving fewer obvious slots for sponsored links.
Analysts say success will depend on clear labeling, frequency caps and separation between ads and answers to avoid manipulation claims.
ChatGPT ads also test whether conversational context can outperform traditional keyword targeting for advertisers in global markets over time.
Spending pressures help explain the push for ChatGPT ads. The figures illustrate why the company is turning to advertising this year globally now more.
| Metric | Past | Current or Planned |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $13 billion last year | Expected to triple this year |
| Product tiers | Free and Go | Ads in free and Go |
| Infrastructure spend | Not disclosed | $115 billion between 2025 and 2029 |
In a blog post, OpenAI said, “People trust ChatGPT for many important tasks,” adding that answers will remain “objectively useful.”
OpenAI said the tests will roll out gradually and be refined before early broader deployment.
Regulators in the US and Europe are expected to scrutinize disclosure practices and data use, particularly where minors and sensitive queries are involved.
The move signals a new chapter in monetizing conversational AI, with ChatGPT ads positioned as a test of whether trust, scale and sustainability can coexist in everyday digital tools for users, advertisers and regulators alike around the world.
Author’s Perspective
In my analysis, OpenAI’s ad pivot reflects capital intensity realities of frontier AI, forcing platformization over subscriptions.
I predict native conversational ad standards and audit regimes will emerge. For users, this reshapes trust. Monitor ad labeling APIs and consent logs.
NOTE! This report was compiled from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage.
