OpenAI Initiates Ad Testing on ChatGPT: A Significant Revenue Strategy Shift
OpenAI, on January 16, 2026, announced its plans to start testing advertisements within ChatGPT in the forthcoming weeks. This move marks a substantial strategic shift for the AI company as it explores new revenue streams. The ads will be visible to users on the free tier and the $8-per-month ChatGPT Go subscription. However, Plus ($20/month), Pro ($200/month), Business, and Enterprise subscriptions will continue to remain ad-free.
The company clarified that advertisements will be displayed at the bottom of ChatGPT responses when there’s a relevant sponsored product or service based on the ongoing conversation. OpenAI emphasized that ads will be clearly labeled and separated from responses. They also pledged that advertising will never influence ChatGPT’s answers or compromise user data privacy.
- Ads will not appear near sensitive topics including health, mental health, or politics.
- Users under 18 will not see advertisements.
CEO Sam Altman had previously expressed reservations about introducing ads. However, he acknowledged in November that the company would likely try advertising at some point. This decision comes as OpenAI faces significant financial pressure, with reports suggesting the company could burn up to $115 billion in cash by 2030. The advertising platform will support OpenAI’s mission to make AI accessible to more people while maintaining free and low-cost access tiers.
Source: CNBC