OpenAI Begins Testing Ads in ChatGPT
Narrative
Limited U.S. test of impression-based ads in ChatGPT for logged-in adult users on Free and Go tiers only. Ads appear clearly labeled at the bottom of responses, matched to conversation topics/past interactions, without influencing answers or sharing conversation data with advertisers. Aims to support broader access to powerful features while preserving trust for important tasks.
Reality
Rolled out February 9, 2026, starting with select users; Pro, Business, Enterprise, Education tiers remain ad-free. Early feedback focus emphasized—no major backlash reported yet. Minimum commitments from brands (~$200k–$250k for beta access) to test viability. Part of broader monetization push amid high compute costs.
Implication
Major step toward diversifying revenue beyond subscriptions; could fund faster iteration on frontier models/agents. Risks UX degradation or user migration to ad-free rivals (e.g., Claude). Highlights tension between free access scaling and sustainability in the AI race. Advertisers gain novel contextual targeting in conversational AI.