Key Points
- OpenAI will start testing ads in the free and lower-priced versions of ChatGPT.
- The move is an effort to generate revenue to cover the high costs of AI development.
- Ads will be separate from ChatGPT’s answers, and user data will not be shared with marketers.
- Users on the more expensive subscription tiers will not see ads. The move is risky, as it could push some users to switch to rival chatbots.
OpenAI is about to start showing ads in ChatGPT. The company announced on Friday that it will begin testing advertisements with users on its free tier and its lower-priced “Go” plan. The move is a major shift for the AI giant as it seeks new ways to cover the incredibly high costs of developing and running its technology.
The ads will start appearing in the coming weeks and will be displayed separately from the chatbot’s answers. Users who pay for the more expensive Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans will not see any ads.
OpenAI was also quick to promise that the ads will not influence ChatGPT’s responses and that user conversations will not be shared with marketers.
This is a big change for a company that has, until now, relied on subscriptions to make money. It highlights the immense financial pressure OpenAI is under. The startup is losing money and has plans to spend over a trillion dollars on AI infrastructure by 2030. With a highly anticipated IPO on the horizon, the company needs to show investors that it can build a sustainable business.
While ads could bring in significant revenue from ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly users, the move is also risky. If the ads are annoying or intrusive, users could easily switch to rival chatbots like Google’s Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude.
OpenAI says it will not show ads to users under 18 and will block them from appearing alongside sensitive topics like health and politics. For now, the ads are just a test, but it’s a clear sign that the free ride on the AI hype train may be coming to an end.
