OpenAI starts ChatGPT ads
OpenAI will begin showing ads to free and low-cost ChatGPT users in the U.S., partnering with Criteo as it moves to monetize the platform — the rollout starts over the coming weeks. This creates a new ad channel reaching tech-savvy, high-intent users and adds another vector marketers will need to measure for acquisition and engagement. (cxodigitalpulse.com)
OpenAI began live testing of ads in ChatGPT on February 9, 2026, saying initial placements appear below answers and are clearly labeled as sponsored content. ( openai.com ) (openai.com) The ChatGPT Go plan that sits between Free and Plus is priced at about $8 per month in the U.S., and OpenAI has said the Go and Free tiers are the only consumer levels where tests will place ads. ( openai.com ) (openai.com) OpenAI has explicitly kept Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education tiers ad-free in public statements about the pilot. ( openai.com ) (openai.com) Early brand advertisers visible in the initial wave include Adobe, Target and Ford, signaling a mix of software, retail and automotive testing ad formats inside conversational responses. ( tomsguide.com ) (tomsguide.com) Ad-industry partners involved in the pilot include major holding companies WPP, Omnicom and Dentsu, even as some agency sources describe the rollout as conservative and the program’s buying mechanics restrictive. ( cnbc.com ) (cnbc.com) Early measurement reports show a sample ChatGPT ad achieving a 0.91% click-through rate—roughly seven times lower than comparable Google search benchmarks cited by advertisers—and publishers reporting limited performance data from the platform. ( winbuzzer.com ) (winbuzzer.com) OpenAI updated public guidance and its ad-testing blog to say ads will not change ChatGPT’s answers, will be shown only to logged‑in adults in the U.S. for now, and that users can dismiss ads and provide feedback; the company has also adjusted privacy language to allow targeting without sharing chat content with advertisers. ( openai.com ) (openai.com)
