OpenAI launched ads inside ChatGPT on February 9, 2026. It is the biggest change in AI history since ChatGPT went live in 2022.
The move affects hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
OpenAI Advertising: What the ChatGPT Ad Launch Actually Means
OpenAI started showing ads to US users on its Free and Go plans. Paid users — on Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise — see no ads.
The ads appear at the bottom of ChatGPT responses. They are clearly labelled as sponsored. OpenAI says ads do not change what ChatGPT tells you.
Advertisers cannot access your chat history. Big brands like Expedia, Target, Ford, and Adobe are in the first wave of the pilot.
The ad price is steep — $60 CPM with a $200,000 minimum spend. Only large brands can enter right now. OpenAI describes the launch as a “test to learn.”
The company needs revenue. Reports show it is spending billions more than it earns. Ads are not optional — they are financial survival.
OpenAI rival Anthropic ran a Super Bowl ad mocking chatbot advertising. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called the move “dishonest.” The public debate is now louder than ever.
Also read about: ChatGPT Search Market Share Hits Double Digits
Why Marketers Must Rethink Their Strategy Now
This launch changes how digital advertising works. Search ads use your past behaviour to target you. ChatGPT ads use your live conversation.
Someone asking about travel could see a flight deal instantly. That is a new kind of intent signal — real-time, high-context, and deeply personal.
For marketers, this is a new channel. Conversational ad placements need new creative formats. You cannot repurpose a banner ad for a chatbot.
Short, helpful, relevant copy will win. Measurement also changes. Clicks and impressions mean less in a conversational interface.
Relevance and trust matter more. More than 30 Omnicom Media clients have joined the pilot. Google's Gemini is also reportedly exploring ads.
This is the new frontier of paid media. If you are not thinking about conversational ad strategy today, you are already behind.
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