OpenAI announced that ads will start testing on ChatGPT for logged in adults in the US on the Free and Go tiers. The company said adverts are not live yet and testing will begin in the coming weeks. Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu accounts will stay ad free.
OpenAI said adverts will appear at the bottom of answers when a sponsored product or service links directly to the conversation. Each advert will carry a label so users know it is paid content. OpenAI said replies come from usefulness rather than commercial input.
Images shared by the company show a cooking answer followed by a grocery product and a travel chat followed by a sponsored holiday rental. OpenAI said the answer always comes first, with the advert shown afterwards.
This placement matters for user experience. Reading and writing finish before any promotion appears. The company said this avoids interrupting thought or flow during a task.
How Could Ads Change The Feel Of Conversations?
Many people use ChatGPT as a quiet personal space for work, study and private questions. Advertising adds a commercial tone to that space. OpenAI said it understands this sensitivity and set rules to protect trust.
The company said adverts never affect replies. Ads and answers stay separate. OpenAI said it does not chase longer time spent inside ChatGPT and puts user experience ahead of revenue.
Users will gain controls over advertising. OpenAI said people can turn off personalisation and delete data used for adverts at any time. Paid subscriptions give a way to avoid adverts entirely.
This system gives choice rather than forcing exposure. Free access comes with adverts, paid access removes them. That trade may feel acceptable to many users.
More from News
- Why Is Taiwan Investing Billions Into The United States?
- Can Starlink’s Low-Cost Broadband Break BT’s Grip On The UK Market?
- UK Supports X Ban: Experts Answer Whether Ofcom Is Stepping On The Toes Of Free Speech?
- Why Are More UK Founders Choosing To Self Fund?
- One In Four UK Workers Say They Applied For Non-Existent Jobs, Known As Ghost Jobs
- Uganda’s Internet Blackout Shows How Modern Technology Can Be Used As A Political Tool
- Leighton Launches New AWS Practice To Support Companies With Digital Transformation Goals
- Why Did London Financial Services Hiring Slow At The End Of 2025?
What About Privacy And Data Use?
OpenAI said conversations inside ChatGPT stay private from advertisers. The company said it never sells user data and never shares chat content with brands.
If a user chooses to message an advertiser through an advert, only those messages go to the advertiser. The rest of the conversation stays private, according to OpenAI.
Ads will avoid sensitive topics. OpenAI said adverts will not appear near health, mental health or political discussions. Accounts flagged as under 18 will not see adverts during testing.
These limits protect comfort during personal chats. The absence of adverts around sensitive topics lowers the risk of distress or confusion.
Who Gains Access And What Changes For Free Users?
OpenAI says adverts help fund fewer usage limits for people who do not pay. ChatGPT Go costs $8 per month and launched in 171 countries since August, according to OpenAI.
Free and Go users in the US will see adverts during testing. Paid tiers will not change. This draws a line between paid calm and free trade offs.
OpenAI said adverts should feel useful rather than intrusive. The company also described future formats that let users ask questions inside an advert to help with buying decisions.
The experience may change for users without becoming too disruptive, according to the company. Answers appear first, controls stay available and privacy rules stay in place. Daily use will decide how this feels in practice.
