OpenAI to Begin Testing Ads in Free ChatGPT Tier

OpenAI announced on Friday that it will begin testing advertisements in the free version of ChatGPT, according to reports from The New York Times and other outlets. The ads will roll out over the next several weeks.

According to WIRED, OpenAI stated that advertisements will not influence ChatGPT’s responses and that the company will not sell user data to advertisers. This marks a significant shift in OpenAI’s monetization strategy as the company continues to burn through billions of dollars in operational costs.

Ars Technica reports that in addition to introducing ads to the free tier, OpenAI is launching a new $8 per month “ChatGPT Go” plan in the United States. The details of what this mid-tier subscription will include were not specified in the available reports.

The move to introduce advertising comes as OpenAI seeks additional revenue streams beyond its existing subscription tiers. The company has faced mounting operational expenses as it scales its AI infrastructure and services. The ad implementation represents OpenAI’s first foray into advertising-based monetization for its flagship chatbot product.