OpenAI's ad pilot hits $100M
OpenAI’s US ChatGPT ad pilot has already surpassed $100 million in annualized revenue just six weeks after launch — a swift monetization signal for AI products. That rapid ad uptake suggests user-facing LLMs can be profit engines, not just cost centers, for startups and platforms building at scale. (reuters.com)
OpenAI plans to open self-serve ad buying to advertisers in April, moving from a strictly invite-only sales model toward broader programmatic access. (cnbc.com) Ads are being shown only to logged‑in adult users on the Free and ChatGPT Go tiers, while Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education subscriptions remain ad‑free, and OpenAI says ads won’t change ChatGPT’s answers and will be clearly labeled. (openai.com) Company spokespeople told reporters that roughly 85% of U.S. Free and Go users are eligible to see ads but under 20% of eligible accounts are shown ads on any given day as part of a cautious rollout. (cnbc.com) OpenAI says the program has onboarded more than 600 advertisers and that nearly 80% of small‑ and‑medium businesses have expressed interest, though some brands have complained about the slow, conservative rollout and limits on measurement. (money.usnews.com) OpenAI this month recruited David (Dave) Dugan, the former Meta vice president for global clients and agencies, to serve as its vice president and head of global ad solutions to build out ad sales and partnerships. (wsj.com) OpenAI has indicated plans to expand the ads test to Canada, Australia and New Zealand in the coming weeks and says it will scale more broadly only after guardrails and privacy controls mature. (cnbc.com)
