OpenAI has officially started testing advertisements on ChatGPT. On Monday, the AI company led by Sam Altman confirmed the launch of a pilot ad program inside its chatbot. At present, the test runs in only one market. However, OpenAI plans to expand it to other regions soon.
The company will show ads only to free users and ChatGPT Go subscribers. At the same time, OpenAI assured users that it will keep all conversations private. Advertisers will not receive access to chat data. Notably, OpenAI launched the ChatGPT Go subscription globally on January 16.
Ads Currently Available Only in the US
According to a blog post, OpenAI has activated the ad pilot for ChatGPT Free and ChatGPT Go users in the United States. Moreover, the company clearly stated that it will not share prompts, chats, or user interactions with advertisers.
Users who want a completely ad-free experience can upgrade to higher-priced plans. Meanwhile, free users can also disable ads. However, doing so may reduce the number of free prompts available each day.
Which ChatGPT Plans Will Stay Ad-Free?
OpenAI confirmed that it will not display ads on the following plans:
- ChatGPT Plus
- ChatGPT Pro
- Business
- Enterprise
- Education
In addition, the company emphasized that advertisements will not influence ChatGPT’s AI-generated responses. As a result, users will continue to receive unbiased answers.
Why OpenAI Is Introducing Advertisements
According to OpenAI, operating ChatGPT requires massive infrastructure and continuous investment. Therefore, advertising helps offset these costs. At the same time, it allows the company to keep ChatGPT accessible to a wider audience.
Furthermore, OpenAI aims to balance free access with sustainable funding. Ads play a key role in achieving that goal.
How Ads Will Appear on ChatGPT
OpenAI stated that it will clearly label all ads as “Sponsored.” Additionally, the platform will visually separate ads from regular responses. This approach helps users easily distinguish between organic answers and promotions.
During the pilot phase, ChatGPT matches ads with conversation topics, chat history, and past interactions. For example, if a user searches for a recipe, the chatbot may show ads for meal kits or grocery delivery services. When multiple advertisers compete, ChatGPT selects the most relevant option and places it at the top.
User Controls and Privacy Options
OpenAI is also giving users strong control over ads. Users can:
- Dismiss an ad
- Share feedback
- See why a specific ad appears
- Delete ad-related data
- Manage personalization settings
As a result, users retain transparency and control over their experience.
Industry Reaction to ChatGPT Ads
This development follows recent criticism from OpenAI’s competitor Anthropic. The company ran advertisements claiming that its AI chatbot Claude does not show ads.
In response, Sam Altman publicly criticized Anthropic’s Super Bowl ad campaign. He described it as misleading and dishonest.