OpenAI will begin testing advertisements within its free version of ChatGPT for logged-in adult users in the US. The company also announced a new, lower-cost subscription tier called “Go” at $8 per month.
This strategic shift aims to generate revenue from its vast user base of 800 million people monthly. OpenAI has committed to spending $1.4 trillion on AI infrastructure over the next eight years and is seeking sustainable funding streams.
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How Ads Will Work:
- Ads will appear at the bottom of ChatGPT’s responses and be clearly labeled as “sponsored.”
- They will be targeted based on conversation context. For example, a query about trip planning could trigger ads for local hotels or attractions.
- OpenAI states ads will not influence ChatGPT’s answers and promises user conversations will not be sold to advertisers.
- Users can disable ad personalization based on their chat history. Ads will be excluded from conversations on regulated topics like health and politics.
- The company confirms ads will not be shown to users under 18.
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New Subscription Tiers:
- Go ($8/month): Includes some premium features like longer memory and more image generations, but will still include ads.
- Plus ($20/month) & Pro ($200/month): Will remain ad-free, as will OpenAI’s enterprise customers.
The move reflects a change in stance for CEO Sam Altman, who has historically expressed dislike for ads in AI, calling the combination “uniquely unsettling.” However, the financial demands of scaling advanced AI have prompted a reevaluation.
This follows a broader industry trend, with Meta also beginning to use AI chatbot interactions for ad personalization. The introduction of ads raises significant questions about privacy and user trust, especially given the personal nature of some ChatGPT conversations.
