tech
January 16, 2026
ChatGPT users are about to get hit with targeted ads
OpenAI says that users impacted by the ads will have some control over what they see.
TL;DR
- OpenAI is testing ads on ChatGPT for free and Go tier users in the U.S.
- The ads will appear at the bottom of conversations and be topic-targeted.
- Users can dismiss ads, see explanations, and turn off personalization.
- OpenAI commits to not serving ads to users under 18 and ensuring 'answer independence'.
- The company will not sell user data to advertisers.
- This strategy could increase ad revenue and potentially drive subscriptions to paid tiers.
- OpenAI states the advertising is in support of its mission to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity.