OpenAI introduces ads to ChatGPT for the first time

The company, which is headquartered in San Francisco and whose value is estimated at approximately 500 billion dollars, said yesterday (Friday) that it will begin testing advertisements in the free version of the chatbot as well as in the cheapest paid subscription. The ads will be displayed at the bottom of ChatGPT answers in the coming weeks.

According to a source close to the company, OpenAI predicts that as early as 2026 the advertising sector will bring in amounts of “a few billions” of dollars, with a gradual increase in the following years.

A change of direction after many years of reluctance

Until now, OpenAI has avoided embedding advertisements within the chatbot’s answers, arguing that this could damage the reliability and objectivity of the information. “People trust ChatGPT for personal and important tasks,” the company said. “With the introduction of advertisements, it is essential to maintain the basic value of the product – trust that the answers are driven by what is objectively useful, and not by advertising considerations.”

The competition is intensifying and the search for funding sources

At the same time, OpenAI is working to develop additional lines of activity: dedicated AI hardware, customized products for governments and companies, and new shopping tools. In addition, according to sources familiar with the matter, the company is in early talks with investors in preparation for another round of fundraising that may reach around 80 billion dollars.

The introduction of advertisements marks a significant change in OpenAI’s approach – and places ChatGPT on a path similar to that of search giants and social networks, including Meta, which built their growth engines on advertising revenue.