OpenAI to Introduce Advertising in ChatGPT, Starting with U.S. Test
OpenAI has announced a strategic shift to incorporate advertising within its ChatGPT platform, initiating a global rollout with a test phase in the United States in the coming weeks. This move marks a significant evolution in the company’s approach to monetizing its widely used AI chatbot.
The initial test will target users on the free tier and the lower-cost ChatGPT Go plan, which is currently being expanded globally. Subscribers to the Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans will maintain an ad-free experience, a distinction that underscores the value of premium subscriptions. According to a company post on X, the ads will be clearly labeled and kept separate from the AI’s responses, with users having controls to dismiss ads or provide feedback. In a commitment to user safety, ads will not be shown to users under 18 and will be excluded from conversations on sensitive topics like health, mental health, or politics.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman outlined the company’s principles in a separate statement, emphasizing that advertising revenue would not influence ChatGPT’s answers and that user conversation data would remain private from advertisers. “It is clear to us that a lot of people want to use a lot of AI and don’t want to pay, so we are hopeful a business model like this can work,” Altman stated. He cited useful ad models, like those on Instagram, as an inspiration for making the advertisements valuable to users.
The introduction of ads arrives as OpenAI manages substantial infrastructure investments and seeks diversified revenue streams. The company’s push into digital advertising follows a proven model for tech giants, where such revenue is critical for funding innovation and expansion. This strategic pivot is akin to how other sectors, such as fintech, must balance growth with user experience, a challenge also faced by institutions like the CBN which prioritises banking stability in a dynamic financial landscape. The success of this initiative could influence how other AI firms structure their own business models, much as major political and security events, from Gbenga Daniel’s suspension to troops dismantle six illegal refineries, shape policy and public discourse in other spheres.
For the broader tech industry, advertising remains a dominant revenue driver, as evidenced by the performance of giants like Google and Meta. OpenAI’s adoption of this model highlights the ongoing challenge of providing advanced AI tools for free while sustaining the immense computational costs required for their operation and development.
