OpenAI is rolling out ads to free and low-tier Go subscribers of ChatGPT in the US within the next few weeks. This marks a shift for the AI chatbot, which until now had largely avoided ad-based monetization despite its massive popularity.
Reports initially surfaced via The Information and were later confirmed by Reuters, revealing that OpenAI has partnered with ad specialist Criteo to pilot this monetization strategy. The program targets advertisers willing to spend between $50,000 and $100,000 to display promotional content through ChatGPT’s interface, aiming to boost both the volume and effectiveness of the ads shown.
This pilot is limited to US users opting for free or Go-tier access. It represents a clear move by OpenAI to diversify its revenue streams beyond its subscription model. Despite ChatGPT’s growth, OpenAI’s investments in computational resources and new AI developments still outpace their income, relying heavily on investor funding to cover billions in costs.
Ads coming to ChatGPT free and Go-tier users in the US
Advertising within an AI assistant is a delicate balance: while ads might help fund continued improvement and infrastructure, they can easily annoy users accustomed to a clean, straightforward experience. Competitors like Google Bard have also explored monetization techniques, but outright ads in conversational AI remain rare.
How OpenAI plans to implement ads in ChatGPT
Users should expect a growing variety of text and visual ads appearing in their chats, calibrated to stay effective without overwhelming the interface-at least, that’s the hope. This change highlights how AI companies are starting to develop sustainable business models beyond subscription fees and API charges, as the costs of training and running large models continue to climb.