OpenAI to Test Ads in ChatGPT for Free and Go Users
Key Points
- OpenAI will begin testing ads in ChatGPT for free and ChatGPT Go users in the United States.
- Ads will be clearly labeled and appear in a separate area at the bottom of the chat window.
- User conversations remain private; OpenAI will not sell data to advertisers.
- Ads will not influence ChatGPT's answers, which stay optimized for helpfulness.
- Plus, Pro, and Enterprise subscribers will not see ads; the $8‑per‑month Go plan will include ads.
- Users can turn off personalization, clear ad data, dismiss ads, and provide feedback.
- Users under 18 and discussions about health, mental health, or politics will be ad‑free.
- The rollout follows earlier hints from OpenAI leadership and a prior app‑promotion experiment.
OpenAI announced that it will begin testing advertisements in ChatGPT for logged‑in users in the United States who use the free version or the new ChatGPT Go subscription. The ads will be clearly labeled and placed in a separate area at the bottom of the chat window. OpenAI assures that conversations remain private, data will not be sold to advertisers, and ad content will not influence the AI’s answers. Users on Plus, Pro, or Enterprise plans will not see ads, and younger users or those discussing sensitive topics such as health, mental health, or politics will be excluded. The company also provides controls to turn off personalization, clear ad‑related data, dismiss ads, and give feedback.
Ad Testing Rollout
OpenAI disclosed that it will start testing advertisements in ChatGPT within the next few weeks. The testing targets logged‑in users located in the United States who either use the free version of the app or subscribe to the ChatGPT Go plan, which is expanding to the U.S. market. Advertisements will appear in a distinct, clearly labeled area at the bottom of each chat conversation, ensuring they are separate from the AI‑generated responses.
Privacy and Data Protection
The company emphasized that user conversations will stay private from advertisers. OpenAI stated it will never sell user data to advertisers and that the ads will not influence the answers provided by ChatGPT, which will continue to be optimized for helpfulness. Users can also turn off personalization, clear the data used for ad targeting, dismiss individual ads, and submit feedback on the ad experience.
Impact on Subscription Plans
Subscribers to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Enterprise plans will not be shown advertisements. The less expensive ChatGPT Go plan, priced at $8 per month, will include ads as part of its offering. This differentiation allows OpenAI to keep the premium experience ad‑free while leveraging ads to support the lower‑cost tier.
User Controls and Restrictions
OpenAI introduced safeguards for younger users and for content deemed sensitive or regulated. Users under 18, or those the system predicts to be under 18, will not see ads. Additionally, ads will not appear alongside conversations about health, mental health, or political topics. These measures aim to protect vulnerable audiences and maintain a respectful environment around regulated subjects.
Background and Rationale
The move follows earlier hints from OpenAI executives that ads could be integrated thoughtfully and tastefully. In a prior interview, Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT, described such an integration as a potential future step. OpenAI previously experimented with app promotions in December, but rolled back the change after some users expressed frustration. According to the company, introducing ads now is intended to enable more people to benefit from its tools while imposing fewer usage limits.