Testing ads in ChatGPT
OpenAI has begun testing non-intrusive ads in ChatGPT’s Free and Go tiers to fund broader access while maintaining user trust, privacy, and answer independence. The pilot will expand to additional markets in 2026.
OpenAI has launched a controlled test of ads in ChatGPT’s Free and Go subscription tiers for logged-in adult users in the United States, with no ads appearing in Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education tiers. The company states that ads will not influence ChatGPT’s responses, conversations will remain private from advertisers, and all ads will be clearly labeled as sponsored. Users can opt out of ads in the Free tier by upgrading or accepting fewer daily messages. The pilot is designed to assess how ads perform without compromising the service’s reliability or user trust.
The expansion of the ads pilot began in March 2026 with additional markets including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, followed by the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea by August 2026. OpenAI emphasizes that the rollout will be gradual, with safeguards to prevent ads from appearing near sensitive topics such as health, mental health, or politics. Advertisers will only receive aggregate performance data, and ads will not target users under 18. The company will adjust the program based on real-world feedback to ensure relevance and maintain user control.
OpenAI’s advertising principles prioritize user privacy, data protection, and the separation of ads from ChatGPT’s independent answers. Advertisers cannot access user chats, chat history, or personal details, and ads are matched to conversation topics without compromising the integrity of responses. Users can manage ad personalization, delete ad data, and provide feedback on ad relevance. The company aims to fund free and low-cost access to ChatGPT while improving its capabilities over time, with the pilot serving as a learning phase before broader expansion.
Businesses interested in participating as advertisers can sign up for updates via OpenAI’s dedicated portal at openai.com/advertisers. OpenAI plans to evolve the program with additional ad formats, objectives, and buying models, while maintaining core commitments to unbiased answers, private conversations, and user control. The company will continue refining safeguards to reduce risks such as scams or misleading ads as the program scales.