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OpenAI Begins Testing Ads in ChatGPT for US Free and Go Users

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • OpenAI announced ad testing in ChatGPT on January 16, 2026
  • Ads will appear for US users on free and Go tiers
  • Ads will not be shown to users under 18 or on sensitive topics

OpenAI stated on January 16, 2026, that it will introduce advertisements in ChatGPT for users in the United States on the free and ChatGPT Go subscription tiers in the coming weeks.

According to OpenAI, advertisements will be displayed at the bottom of chatbot responses and will be clearly marked and separated from the main answers. The company indicated that these ads will not affect the content of ChatGPT’s responses, which will continue to be generated based on helpfulness.

OpenAI confirmed that ads will not be shown to users under the age of 18. The company also said that ads will not appear alongside conversations involving sensitive topics such as health, mental health, or politics.

The ChatGPT Go subscription, which costs $8 per month, is being expanded to users worldwide and will include advertisements for users in the United States. OpenAI stated that the Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscription tiers will remain free of advertisements.

What the numbers show

  • OpenAI announced the ad testing plan on January 16, 2026
  • ChatGPT Go is priced at $8 per month
  • Ads will be shown to US users on free and Go tiers only

OpenAI emphasized that user conversations will not be shared with advertisers. The company stated that privacy will be maintained for all users, and advertiser access to chat content will not be permitted.

OpenAI’s approach includes labeling and separating advertisements from chatbot answers to maintain clarity for users. The company outlined these procedures to distinguish paid content from generated responses.

Users on the Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans will continue to use ChatGPT without encountering advertisements, according to OpenAI. The company confirmed that these higher-tier subscriptions are not affected by the new ad testing initiative.

OpenAI stated that the rollout of advertisements is limited to the United States and applies only to the free and Go subscription levels at this stage. The company indicated that the ad testing will begin in the coming weeks.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

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