OpenAI Tests Advertising in ChatGPT, Signaling a New Era of AI-Driven Marketing

Sponsored content rolls out for free users as OpenAI balances growth, transparency, and monetization

OpenAI has begun testing advertisements inside ChatGPT, marking a major shift in how one of the world’s most widely used AI platforms may be funded in the future. For the first time since ChatGPT launched in 2022, select users are starting to see sponsored content, bringing AI closer to the familiar, ad-supported model of the modern internet.

According to OpenAI, the test is currently limited to logged-in users on the Free and Go plans in the United States. Paid tiers, including Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education, will remain completely ad-free. The company says the move is designed to support broader access to advanced AI tools without forcing every user to pay a subscription.

“Our focus with this test is learning,” OpenAI said in a blog post, adding that user feedback will guide how ads are designed and placed. The company emphasized that ads are shown outside ChatGPT’s actual responses and are clearly labeled as sponsored. Importantly, OpenAI stated that ads do not affect how the chatbot answers questions and that conversations are not shared with advertisers.

From a marketing perspective, OpenAI is taking a cautious approach. Ads are selected based on broad topics rather than personal data, and they are blocked from appearing alongside sensitive subjects such as health, mental health, or politics. Users can also opt out of ads, either by upgrading to a paid plan or by accepting fewer daily free messages. Additional controls allow users to limit ad personalization or delete ad-related data.

While the rollout is still limited, the move highlights how AI platforms are beginning to merge with digital advertising. As OpenAI experiments with this new model, it signals a future where marketing and artificial intelligence increasingly intersect, carefully, transparently, and under growing public scrutiny.