Ads Are Coming to ChatGPT. Here’s How They’ll Work
Summary
OpenAI will begin testing ads in ChatGPT in the United States, placing clearly labelled advertisements in separate boxes directly beneath chatbot answers. The trial targets logged-in users on the free tier and the new $8-a-month “Go” tier; subscribers to Plus, Pro and Enterprise will not see ads. OpenAI says ads will not influence responses, it will not sell individual user data to advertisers, and ads will be disallowed in sensitive or regulated conversations and for minors. Advertisers will get aggregate performance metrics, while ad selection will rely on conversation topics plus some optional personalisation data that users can turn off.
Key Points
- OpenAI is starting ad tests in ChatGPT in the US, with plans to expand globally.
- Ads appear in separate, clearly labelled boxes below the chatbot’s answer and are intended not to affect responses.
- Ad impressions target free and Go-tier logged-in users; Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscribers are excluded.
- OpenAI says it will not sell user data or expose individual conversations to advertisers; only aggregate ad metrics are shared with advertisers.
- Ad matching is based on conversation topics and some personalisation data; users can opt out of the data used for advertising without losing other personalisation features.
- Ads will be banned in conversations on sensitive or regulated topics (eg health, politics) and for users believed to be under 18.
- OpenAI is exploring interactive ad experiences inside conversational flows to let users ask questions directly from an ad.
- Monetisation via ads addresses OpenAI’s need to generate revenue for scaling and competing with rivals like Google Gemini, but carries a risk of degrading user experience if handled poorly.
Why should I read this?
If you use ChatGPT (and who doesn’t?), this changes the experience. Quick version: expect labelled ads under answers on free accounts soon, you won’t be stalked by advertisers seeing your private chats, and you can switch off the ad data. Read this so you know what to watch for and how to keep your chats behaving the way you want.
Context and Relevance
This move is a predictable step for a consumer product with hundreds of millions of weekly users. It signals OpenAI shifting ChatGPT from a loss-making growth product toward clearer monetisation, using ad revenue to fund more powerful AI features. The company is attempting a middle path: monetise large free-user base while promising not to commodify individual conversations. That approach will be scrutinised for privacy, transparency and the long-term impact on trust and user experience as ads evolve.
Author style
Punchy: This is big. Ads in ChatGPT affect everyday interactions, developer economics and privacy trade-offs at scale. If OpenAI gets this right, it funds better models and broader access; if it gets it wrong, it risks eroding the one thing users really value: trust. worth reading the details so you know the trade-offs and your options.