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OpenAI to Begin Testing Ads in ChatGPT for US Users

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • OpenAI will test ads in ChatGPT for US users on free and Go tiers
  • Ads will be labeled and shown separately from chatbot responses
  • Users under 18 will not see ads, according to OpenAI

OpenAI has announced plans to introduce advertisements in ChatGPT for users in the United States on both the free and Go subscription tiers. This development marks a new approach to monetization for the widely used AI chatbot platform.

According to OpenAI, the ads will be presented in a way that distinguishes them from the chatbot’s generated answers. The company stated that advertisements will typically appear below the main response and will be clearly marked to avoid confusion with ChatGPT’s output.

OpenAI has stated that advertisements will not influence the content or quality of ChatGPT’s responses. The company also said that it will not sell user data or provide individual conversation details to advertisers, instead sharing only aggregated performance metrics related to ad campaigns.

To address privacy and safety, OpenAI confirmed that ads will not be displayed alongside content related to sensitive or regulated topics, such as health, mental health, or politics. The company further stated that users under the age of 18 will not be shown ads, with age determined by self-reporting or an age-prediction model.

What the numbers show

  • Ads will be tested on the free and $8/month ChatGPT Go tiers in the US
  • Users under 18 will be excluded from ad exposure
  • Only aggregated ad performance data will be shared with advertisers

OpenAI indicated that users will have options to manage their ad experience. These controls include the ability to disable ad personalization and to clear data that has been used for advertising purposes.

The company outlined that ads will not be shown in conversations involving topics classified as sensitive or regulated. This measure is intended to limit the presence of advertisements in areas such as health, mental health, and political discussions.

OpenAI emphasized that its advertising approach will not involve selling user data or exposing individual conversations. The company said that only summary-level metrics about ad performance will be available to advertisers, and that individual user information will remain private.

By introducing these advertising features, OpenAI aims to expand access to ChatGPT while maintaining user privacy controls and transparency about how ads are displayed and managed on the platform.

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

Sources and further reading

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