OpenAI Announces Testing of Ads in ChatGPT for Free and Go Users
OpenAI has made a significant announcement. The company will start testing advertisements in ChatGPT within the coming weeks. This move marks a notable shift in the startup's business strategy. OpenAI aims to monetize its vast free user base and address the rising costs of AI infrastructure.
Which Users Will See Ads?
CEO Sam Altman clarified the details on social media platform X. Ads will be introduced specifically for users on the Free tier. They will also appear for subscribers of the newly launched ChatGPT Go plan. This is an $8-per-month subscription that recently debuted in the United States.
Importantly, high-tier subscribers will not see any advertisements. This includes users on the Plus plan at $20 per month, the Pro plan at $200 per month, and Enterprise customers. Their experience will remain completely ad-free.
"We are starting to test ads in ChatGPT free and Go tiers," Altman wrote. He emphasized the company's commitment to user privacy and impartiality. "We will not accept money to influence the answer ChatGPT gives you. We keep your conversations private from advertisers."
Why Is OpenAI Introducing Ads?
Altman provided a clear rationale for this new direction. "It is clear to us that a lot of people want to use a lot of AI and don't want to pay," he stated. The company is hopeful that an advertising-supported model can work effectively. This approach allows them to sustain services for millions of non-paying users.
Sam Altman's Change of Heart on Advertising
This announcement represents a change in perspective for Sam Altman. He has historically expressed a dislike for traditional internet advertising. In the past, he has even criticized companies like Google for their ad models.
However, Altman now points to a positive example. He cited Meta's photo-sharing app, Instagram. "An example of ads I like are on Instagram," he said. "I've found stuff I like that I otherwise never would have. We will try to make ads ever more useful to users."
How Will Ads Work in ChatGPT?
OpenAI has established several "guardrails" for this initial testing phase. The goal is to maintain user trust and ensure a positive experience.
- Ads will appear at the bottom of a ChatGPT response.
- They will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored."
- Ads will be visually separated from the AI's organic answer.
- Advertisements will be triggered by the current conversation context.
- Advertisers cannot pay to influence the actual text generated by ChatGPT.
Safety and Content Restrictions
OpenAI is implementing strict safety measures for this ad rollout.
- Ads will not be shown to users under the age of 18.
- The system will block ads from appearing near "sensitive or regulated" topics.
- This includes conversations related to politics, health, and mental health.
The company released an official statement on Friday. "We'll learn from feedback and refine how ads show up over time," they said. "Our commitment to putting users first and maintaining trust won't change."
This shift is notable given Altman's past comments. In a 2024 podcast, he said he "kind of hate[s] ads just as an aesthetic choice." The new testing phase shows a pragmatic evolution in OpenAI's strategy to build a sustainable business around its popular AI chatbot.
