OpenAI has announced plans to test advertising inside ChatGPT for some users in the United States. The ads will appear only on the free version and the lower-priced Go plan, while paid subscriptions will stay ad-free. The move comes as the company looks for new ways to fund its AI services while keeping entry costs low.
The company recently expanded its ChatGPT Go plan to more regions, after launching it in 171 countries last year. The plan costs $8 per month and offers higher limits along with features like image creation, file uploads, and memory. With this rollout now covering all ChatGPT markets, OpenAI appears to be targeting users who want more access but cannot afford higher-priced plans. It is important to note that GhatGPT Go is available for free in India right now for a year.
OpenAI has also confirmed how it would show ads. Early formats will place ads below answers, rather than mixing them into responses. Sensitive areas such as health and politics will be excluded, and accounts linked to users under 18 will not see ads during testing.
OpenAI is also following the general approach used by most internet platforms. Many platforms start free, then introduce ads once usage reaches scale. ChatGPT already has a massive user base. Industry estimates suggest it serves hundreds of millions of users every week. Even limited ad exposure could create a large new revenue stream without raising prices.
At the same time, ads inside an AI tool also raise several concerns. Users often rely on ChatGPT for work, learning, and personal decisions. If ads appear too closely tied to answers, it could affect how reliable people feel the system is. OpenAI says ads will not shape responses, but this claim will likely be tested once ads go live.
Data privacy is another major concern. AI tools process large amounts of personal and sensitive information. OpenAI has said user conversations will not be shared with advertisers and that users will have controls over ad personalization. How clearly these controls are presented and how easy they are to use will matter to public perception.
