OpenAI Introduces Advertisements in ChatGPT and Expands Global Access to ‘Go’ Tier
In a significant move towards revenue diversification, OpenAI has announced that it will commence testing advertisements within its ChatGPT platform in the upcoming weeks. This marks a considerable shift in the company’s business model, as it looks to balance out the massive costs of infrastructure.
The AI behemoth plans to introduce ads to adult users in the United States who are using the free version of ChatGPT and the newly expanded $8-per-month “ChatGPT Go” subscription tier. The latter is now accessible globally, including in the U.S. However, the company’s premium tiers—Plus ($20/month), Pro ($200/month), and Enterprise—will continue to be ad-free.
Advertisements will be displayed at the bottom of ChatGPT responses and will be clearly marked as sponsored content. OpenAI has emphasized that conversations will not influence ChatGPT’s responses, and assured that user data will never be sold to advertisers. Furthermore, the company has stated that ads will not be shown to users under 18 or near sensitive topics, including politics, health, and mental health.
The decision comes as OpenAI grapples with substantial operational expenses, with the company heavily investing in AI infrastructure. Despite projections of hitting $20 billion in annualized revenue by 2025, the company’s enormous compute costs have necessitated the exploration of additional revenue streams, potentially ahead of a late-2026 IPO.
Source: CNBC