According to OpenAI (@OpenAI), the company has begun testing advertisements in its ChatGPT free and new Go ($8/month) tiers to develop a sustainable business model for high-usage AI services without requiring mandatory payment from users. OpenAI emphasizes that ad content will not influence ChatGPT's generated responses and asserts that user conversations will remain private from advertisers. This move reflects a broader AI industry trend toward ad-supported models to democratize access to advanced generative AI while ensuring data privacy and transparency (source: OpenAI, https://x.com/OpenAI/status/2012223373489614951). As Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise tiers remain ad-free, the approach aims to balance monetization with user trust—presenting new opportunities for digital marketers, AI platform developers, and businesses seeking to reach engaged AI users.

According to Sawyer Merritt, OpenAI has officially announced that ads will soon be displayed to users of ChatGPT's free and Go subscription tiers, marking a significant shift in the monetization strategy for AI-powered chat services (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter). The ads, previewed in early screenshots, will be natively integrated into ChatGPT conversations, providing AI companies and digital marketers with a new channel for targeted advertising and customer engagement. This move opens up fresh business opportunities for advertisers looking to reach ChatGPT’s large user base and highlights a growing trend of integrating commercial models into AI platforms (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter).

According to @OpenAI, the company will soon start testing advertisements in ChatGPT's free and Go tiers, introducing a monetization strategy while emphasizing user trust and transparency (source: OpenAI, Twitter, Jan 16, 2026). This move could set a precedent for sustainable business models in AI-powered chat applications, expanding AI's accessibility by offsetting operational costs. For businesses, it opens up new advertising channels targeting highly engaged AI users, creating opportunities for AI-driven marketing and application integration. The focus on clear principles around ad transparency may also influence industry standards for responsible AI commercialization.

According to @godofprompt on Twitter, OpenAI is preparing to introduce targeted advertising within ChatGPT by leveraging its new 'memory' feature, which references all past user conversations for contextual ad targeting (source: @godofprompt, 2025-10-25). OpenAI has reportedly hired 630 former Meta employees, representing 20% of its staff, to develop these capabilities. The company projects up to $25 billion in ad revenue by 2029, aiming to offset its current $8.5 billion annual burn rate and achieve profitability (source: @godofprompt, 2025-10-25). This move signals a major shift in AI monetization strategies, with profound business implications for AI-powered advertising, user privacy, and data-driven personalization. The use of conversational AI data for ad targeting could create new market segments in hyper-personalized marketing, while also raising industry-wide concerns about trust, privacy, and ethical AI deployment.