OpenAI has announced plans to test ads in the free version of ChatGPT for logged-in users in the US who are over 18. The ads will appear at the bottom of responses, clearly labelled as sponsored. They start in the coming weeks. The company says this helps keep the tool affordable while expanding access. User data stays protected and will not be sold to advertisers.
The move comes as OpenAI looks to make money from its popular chatbot. ChatGPT launched in late 2022 and quickly gained millions of users. But running it costs a lot in computing power.
Ads could help cover that without raising prices for everyone. The free tier and the new $8-a-month Go plan will see the tests first. Higher plans like Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise stay ad-free.
OpenAI promises ads will not change ChatGPT’s answers. Responses come from what’s useful, not from sponsors. Ads show up below the main text in a separate box.
Users can turn off personalisation if they want. That means chats will not shape the ads shown. During tests, no ads appear in talks about health, mental health or politics. OpenAI says this keeps things safe and relevant.
The new Go plan rolls out at the same time. It gives more messages, file uploads, image creation and longer memory than the free version. For $8 a month, users get these extras but still see ads during the test.
OpenAI first launched Go in India and other spots. Now it goes global where ChatGPT works. The company wants more people to use AI without high costs.
CEO Sam Altman shared the news on X. He said ads will be useful, like those on Instagram. The goal is to build trust while adding value. OpenAI stresses user experience over quick money. They plan to listen to feedback during the US test. If it works, ads might spread to other places.
Some experts worry ads could push users away. Competitors like Google’s Gemini or Meta’s AI do not show ads yet. If ChatGPT feels too commercial, people might switch. But OpenAI says tests will start small and improve based on what users say.
This step marks a shift for OpenAI. Altman once called ads a last resort. But costs to run AI keep rising. The company raised billions in funding last year. Now ads join subscriptions as ways to earn. Free users get the core tool with limits. Paid ones avoid caps and ads.
For now, tests are limited to logged-in adults in the US. Kids under 18 see no ads. Sensitive topics stay clean. OpenAI promises no data sales. Users control what ads they see from their chats.
Reactions online are mixed. Some welcome affordable access. Others fear cluttered screens. Tech forums discuss if ads fit AI tools. Many wait to see the real look.
OpenAI started as a research lab in 2015. It went for-profit in 2019. ChatGPT changed how people use AI. Daily users number in the hundreds of millions. Ads could boost that if done right.
Watch for updates as tests roll out. OpenAI shares more on their blog. Users in the US might see changes soon. The company asks for input to shape the feature. This development shows AI firms need steady income. As tools grow, so do ways to pay for them. Free ChatGPT with ads keeps it open for all.
