OpenAI to add ads on ChatGPT
OpenAI will start showing ads to all free and low‑cost ChatGPT users as a revenue play to offset rising compute bills — a change that could affect prototyping workflows that rely on free tiers. The move signals increased monetization pressure across widely used developer tools. (startupnews.fyi)
OpenAI began live tests of ads inside ChatGPT on Feb. 9, 2026, saying the experiment would target logged‑in adult users on the Free and Go tiers and that ads would be clearly labeled and kept separate from model answers. (openai.com) OpenAI named Criteo its first ad‑tech integration partner on Mar. 2, 2026, positioning Criteo’s commerce‑media infrastructure to place ads inside ChatGPT’s Free and Go experiences. (prnewswire.com) In the current test configuration, ads are served below model responses and users can dismiss an ad or ask why they’re seeing it, while OpenAI says ads will be excluded from sensitive topics and will not change ChatGPT’s answers. (openai.com) OpenAI has said Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education subscriptions will remain ad‑free, while the mid‑tier ChatGPT Go — priced at $8 per month in the U.S. — is included in the ad test and offers higher message limits than the free tier. (openai.com) Early marketing partners and ad agencies have reported mixed results: The Information reported that some of OpenAI’s initial advertisers struggled to demonstrate clear ROI from ChatGPT placements, and CNBC said major ad groups including WPP, Omnicom and Dentsu are part of the testing program but are frustrated by the conservative rollout. (theinformation.com) (cnbc.com) OpenAI’s privacy updates and public guidance state advertisers will not get access to users’ chat content and that targeting will rely on contextual signals and aggregated metrics rather than direct exposure to conversations. (openai.com) (msn.com)
