Hajra Naz
OpenAI is finally putting ads into ChatGPT. Starting this month in the U.S., Free and Go tier users will see them pop up in their chats. The Go plan costs just $8/month and launched globally in January.
Subscribers on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education won’t see a single ad.
Ads Won’t Break Your Chat
OpenAI promises the ads won’t mess with your answers. Your conversations remain private. The company says ads are there to fund broader access to ChatGPT and support future upgrades.
“Ads do not influence ChatGPT’s responses,” OpenAI wrote. “They’re clearly labeled, separate, and optimized to be helpful.”
Anthropic Throws Shade in Super Bowl Ads
Rivals at Anthropic had some fun at OpenAI’s expense during the Super Bowl. Their ads showed chatbots advising, while awkward, irrelevant ads flashed on screen.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was not amused. He called the ads “dishonest” and described Anthropic as “authoritarian.”
Read More: OpenAI’s Sam Altman reacts sharply to Anthropic’s Super Bowl marketing
How ChatGPT Ads Will Work
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Ads may appear based on your chat topic, previous conversations, or past ad interactions.
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Example: Ask for dinner recipes? You might see ads for meal kits or grocery delivery.
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Advertisers cannot access personal chat data—only aggregate metrics like clicks and views.
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Users can dismiss ads, provide feedback, view why an ad appeared, and control personalization.
Teen Safety and Sensitive Topics
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No ads for users under 18.
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No ads near health, politics, or mental health topics.
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OpenAI lets you view and clear your ad history anytime.
Why OpenAI Is Doing This
ChatGPT costs a lot to run. Ads are a way to generate revenue without charging everyone. The company wants the chatbot to stay free—or at least affordable—for millions.
Some critics worry ads might influence AI answers, but OpenAI insists the system is transparent, safe, and separate from your chat.
Read More: OpenAI releases new macOS app for AI-powered coding
The Bottom Line
ChatGPT is evolving. Free users will see ads, paid users won’t. OpenAI is trying to balance revenue, access, and privacy. How users react will shape the future of AI monetization.
