OpenAI is introducing ads in ChatGPT as part of expanding access to AI while maintaining user trust and experience. They have launched ChatGPT Go, a low-cost subscription available in 171 countries, now extended to the U.S., offering enhanced features for $8/month. In the coming weeks, OpenAI will begin testing ads in the U.S. on the free and Go tiers, while Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscriptions will remain ad-free.
Advertising Principles
OpenAI emphasizes several core principles guiding their advertising approach:
- Mission alignment: Advertising supports OpenAI’s mission to ensure AGI benefits all humanity and improves AI accessibility.
- Answer independence: Ads do not influence ChatGPT’s responses, which remain focused on providing the most helpful, objective answers. Ads are clearly separated and labeled.
- Conversation privacy: User conversations are kept private and never sold to advertisers.
- Choice and control: Users control their data usage, can disable ad personalization, clear ad data, and opt out of ads via paid tiers.
- Long-term value: Priority is given to user trust and experience over maximizing revenue; time spent in ChatGPT is not optimized for ads.
Ad Testing and Format
Testing will begin with logged-in adults in the U.S. on free and Go tiers. Ads will appear at the bottom of answers when relevant to the conversation, clearly labeled and distinct from organic content. Users can learn why an ad is shown, dismiss ads, and provide feedback. Ads will not be shown to users under 18 or near sensitive topics such as health, mental health, or politics.
The initial ad formats aim to be useful and engaging, helping users discover new products and services. OpenAI envisions conversational ads where users can interact directly with ads to ask questions and make purchase decisions.
Impact and Future Outlook
Ads can empower small businesses and emerging brands by leveling the playing field through AI-driven high-quality experiences. OpenAI plans to refine ad experiences based on user feedback while maintaining a user-first approach and trust.
The company’s long-term focus remains on building valuable products that users and businesses are willing to pay for, with ads as part of a diverse revenue model to make AI more accessible. OpenAI looks forward to feedback during ad testing to ensure ads support broad AI access without compromising the trust that makes ChatGPT valuable.
