Ads Will Soon Appear on ChatGPT, But They Won’t Influence Its Responses
Posted On: 1/20/2026, 11:41:17 AM
Last Update: 1/20/2026, 11:41:17 AM
OpenAI plans to introduce ads in the free version of ChatGPT for logged-in, adult US users.
Remarkably, a new $8-per-month “Go” subscription will provide enhanced features such as extended memory and increased image creation options, at a lower price than the “Plus” and “Pro” subscriptions.
Unlike Plus, Pro, and OpenAI's business clients, “Go” subscribers will see advertisements.
Targeted Advertising: Offering Users Relevant Offers
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously been cautious about incorporating ads into ChatGPT. However, OpenAI is now seeking ways to generate more revenue from its 800 million monthly users to support its $1.4 trillion investment in AI infrastructure over the next eight years.
Altman indicated that the company aims for approximately $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2025.
Last year, OpenAI launched “Instant Checkout,” allowing users to purchase items from retailers like Walmart and Etsy through ChatGPT. Additionally, the company introduced health and learning tools to enhance user experience and encourage potential upgrades to a paid subscription.
Advertising may be a profitable strategy for OpenAI, leveraging user interaction data from ChatGPT to create targeted advertisements. For instance, a user seeking trip planning assistance could receive ads for hotels or local entertainment options.
Besides, as part of a test, ads labelled as “sponsored” will appear at the bottom of ChatGPT's responses. OpenAI clarified that these ads will not influence the answers provided by ChatGPT, emphasising the importance of user trust in the objectivity of the responses.
The company allows users to disable tailored adverts for their chats and promises that user data and discussions will not be sold to advertisers.
Further, OpenAI intends to abstain from advertising in discussions pertaining to regulated topics such as politics, mental health, or health.
Ensuring Responsible Delivery of Ads
OpenAI articulated enthusiasm about using AI to develop more beneficial and pertinent advertising experiences. They mentioned that future advertisements might allow consumers to directly ask questions to help them decide what to buy.
Altman expressed strong dislike for ads in a 2024 interview, describing the combination of ads with AI as “uniquely unsettling.” However, he noted that OpenAI might consider ads in the future, emphasising the need for caution in integrating them with ChatGPT.
Inserting advertisements into chatbot conversations may raise controversy due to the personal nature of user interactions. This approach increases pressure on OpenAI to avoid recommending potentially harmful products, particularly in light of lawsuits claiming that ChatGPT has encouraged suicides.
Furthermore, OpenAI will refrain from serving ads to users identified as, or believed to be, under 18, relying on AI to estimate users' ages through their interactions and usage patterns.
In closing, ads are increasingly integrated into users' AI experiences across various platforms, exemplified by Meta's December initiative to utilise user interaction data from its AI chatbot for targeted advertising.
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