OpenAI is poised to introduce advertising within its flagship ChatGPT platform in the coming weeks, a move anticipated to unlock a significant new revenue stream for the artificial intelligence leader. The company confirmed that its premium subscription tiers—Plus, Pro, and Enterprise—will remain ad-free. However, advertisements will be tested with free-tier adult users in the United States, and will also appear for users opting for the new, lower-cost “Go” offering, which is also launching in the U.S.
This strategic shift into digital advertising comes as OpenAI navigates substantial infrastructure investments and ambitious growth targets. Having reportedly secured over $1.4 trillion in infrastructure deals throughout 2025, and with CEO Sam Altman previously stating the company was on track for a $20 billion annualized revenue run rate last year, the integration of ads appears to be a calculated effort to bolster financial performance. It mirrors a strategy that has proven highly lucrative for established tech giants like Google and Meta, whose business models heavily rely on advertising revenue.
OpenAI has emphasized its commitment to user trust and experience during this transition. Advertisements will be positioned at the bottom of ChatGPT’s responses and will be clearly demarcated. Crucially, the company has stated that ad content will not influence the chatbot’s generated responses, and it will maintain a strict policy of never selling user data to advertisers. Furthermore, specific user demographics and sensitive topics will be protected: users under 18 will not encounter ads, and advertisements will be excluded from content related to politics, health, and mental health.
While Sam Altman has previously voiced concerns about the potential impact of advertising on user trust, he acknowledged in a recent podcast that the company would likely explore this avenue at some point, though he did not foresee it as its primary revenue driver. OpenAI’s statement indicates a willingness to adapt, noting that feedback will be integral to refining the ad experience over time, while reiterating its core commitment to prioritizing users and preserving trust. Users will have the ability to understand why specific ads are displayed, dismiss them, and provide feedback.
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