ChatGPT to Start Showing Users Ads Based on Their Conversations

OpenAI has announced plans to introduce advertisements in ChatGPT, starting with its free version for logged-in, adult users in the US. The tech company revealed that it would also roll out a new $8-per-month “Go” subscription, which will include some upgraded features like extended memory and more image creation opportunities. However, users who subscribe to the “Plus,” “Pro,” and OpenAI’s business accounts will not see ads.

CEO Sam Altman had previously expressed hesitation about displaying ads on ChatGPT, but the company is now under pressure to increase its revenue. OpenAI needs additional funding to support its commitment to spending $1.4 trillion on AI infrastructure over the next eight years. The company expects to generate $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2025.

The decision comes after OpenAI introduced features like “Instant Checkout,” which allows users to purchase items from retailers directly through ChatGPT. The move to introduce ads aims to make ChatGPT an even more integral part of users' daily lives and encourage them to opt for paid subscriptions.

These ads will appear at the bottom of ChatGPT’s responses to users and will be clearly labeled as “sponsored.” While OpenAI assures users that ads won’t affect the quality or content of responses, it maintains that users can turn off personalized ads. Importantly, OpenAI states that it won’t sell user data and will not advertise on topics like health, mental health, or politics.

Altman, who has previously described the idea of combining AI with ads as "uniquely unsettling," expressed mixed feelings about the move, emphasizing the need to handle ads carefully in the future.