OpenAI said Friday it would start rolling out ads in ChatGPT to some U.S. users as the company looks to generate more revenue ahead of a highly anticipated initial public offering.
The company said it plans to start testing ads in the US in the coming weeks for users on the free and cheaper Go tiers, while the Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise plans will not include ads.
“We plan to test ads at the bottom of replies in ChatGPT when there is a relevant sponsored product or service based on your current conversation,” OpenAI said in a statement.
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The ChatGPT logo appears on a smartphone screen in this illustration photo in Reno, United States, on January 3, 2025. (Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The company said ads will be “clearly labeled” and separated from ChatGPT responses, adding that users can learn why they see specific ads and ignore them.
Ads will not appear on accounts where the user is under 18, and they should not appear near sensitive or regulated topics such as health, mental health or politics, the company said.
OpenAI said its ads will not affect the answers ChatGPT gives users, and conversations will be kept private from advertisers.
“We never sell your data to advertisers,” the company said, adding that users can turn off the personalization feature. “We always offer a way to avoid ads in ChatGPT, including a paid tier that is ad-free.”
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OpenAI said on Friday it would start rolling out ads in ChatGPT to some US users. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
OpenAI relies largely on subscriptions for its revenue, but could generate significant advertising revenue from ChatGPT’s estimated 800 million weekly active users. The company plans to spend more than $1 trillion on artificial intelligence infrastructure by 2030, but has not said how it will cover the costs, according to Reuters.
Users could choose to switch to competing chatbots, Emarketer analyst Jeremy Goldman told Reuters, adding that OpenAI’s move could motivate competitors “to clarify their own monetization philosophies, especially those that position themselves as ‘ad-free by design’.”
OpenAI said in its statement that it will learn from feedback and refine its ads over time, which will not change its “commitment to putting users first and maintaining trust.”
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OpenAI has announced plans to roll out ads in ChatGPT for free and lower end users. (LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Our long-term focus remains on building products that millions of people and businesses find valuable enough to pay for,” the company said. “Our enterprise and subscription businesses are already strong and we believe in a diverse revenue model where advertising can play a role in making information more accessible to everyone.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
