ChatGPT to begin testing ads in US as OpenAI accelerates revenue push

ChatGPT

• OpenAI to test ads in ChatGPT for free and Go users in the US soon
• Ads will be labeled, won't influence ChatGPT responses, and won't use user data
• ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business users won't see ads

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OpenAI on January 16 announced plans to start testing ads within ChatGPT in the coming weeks, as part of its efforts to diversify its revenue streams and fuel its future expansion.

This move marks a significant shift for the artificial intelligence (AI) research giant, which has primarily relied on subscriptions until now. ChatGPT currently has over 800 million weekly active users across the world.

Who will see ads on ChatGPT?

Ads will start appearing for logged-in users in the free and Go tiers in the United States, where they will see a relevant sponsored product or service relevant to their conversation at the bottom of the answer. These ads will be clearly labeled and separated from the organic answer, the company said.

Users on Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscription tiers will not see ads.

An example of ads that will appear on ChatGPT (Image: OpenAI)

Is OpenAI bringing ChatGPT Go to new regions?

Coinciding with this pilot, OpenAI is expanding its low-cost Go tier to the United States and every market where ChatGPT is available.

ChatGPT Go was first launched by OpenAI in India in August 2025 to provide more affordable access to ChatGPT's advanced features. It offers subscribers higher message limits, more image generations per day, additional file and image uploads, and longer memory for more personalised responses.

ChatGPT Go is priced at Rs 399 per month in India. However, the company has been offering a one-year free subscription to all users in the country since November 2025, as part of its efforts to drive adoption in its biggest market.

Also read: OpenAI’s Srinivas Narayanan bets on ecosystem play to attract the next wave of AI developers from India and beyond

Will ads influence ChatGPT responses?

OpenAI stated that answers provided by ChatGPT will not be influenced by ads. The company also noted that it will keep conversations private and will never sell their data to advertisers.

"People trust ChatGPT for many important and personal tasks, so as we introduce ads, it’s crucial we preserve what makes ChatGPT valuable in the first place," said Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI, in a blogpost "That means you need to trust that ChatGPT’s responses are driven by what’s objectively useful, never by advertising."

She added,"We need to keep a high bar and give you control over your experience so you see truly relevant, high-quality ads—and can turn off personalization if you want."

OpenAI noted that it will not show ads to accounts where the user has indicated they are under 18, or where the company determines the user is a minor. Ads will also not appear near sensitive or regulated topics like health, mental health or politics.

How can businesses advertise within ChatGPT?

Simo mentioned that OpenAI will be exploring new ad formats and experiences within the app in the coming weeks and months. "Conversational interfaces create possibilities for people to go beyond static messages and links. For example, soon you might see an ad and be able to directly ask the questions you need to make a purchase decision," she said.

The company will learn from user feedback and refine how ads show up over time, Simo said. "By starting our ad platform from the ground up with these principles in place, we can align our incentives with what people want from ChatGPT."

Why is advertising important for OpenAI?

These tests come at a time when OpenAI is massively ramping up its spends on AI infrastructure. The company has pledged to spend about $1.4 trillion on data centers and AI chips through a range of deals over the next eight years, in a bid to meet the growing demand.

In November, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the AI pioneer was on track to end this year above $20 billion in annualised revenue run rate, which he hopes to grow to hundreds of billion by 2030.

"Our enterprise and subscription businesses are already strong," Simo said "We believe in having a diverse revenue model where ads can play a part in making intelligence more accessible to everyone."

Earlier in the week, Google introduced personalised shopping ads in its AI products. Advertisers will be able to present exclusive offers for shoppers ready to buy an item directly in AI Mode, the tech giant's AI search product.