ChatGPT rolls out ad testing for US Free and Go plan users

OpenAI has begun testing advertisements on ChatGPT for users in the United States subscribed to the Free and Go plans. This initiative represents a notable shift for the AI firm as it explores new revenue streams while keeping its premium tiers ad-free.

The recently introduced Go plan, priced at $8 per month in the US and launched globally in mid-January, along with the Free tier, are the only categories where ads will be displayed. OpenAI confirmed that subscribers on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education plans will continue to have an ad-free experience.

In its announcement, the company addressed concerns regarding trust and user experience. OpenAI emphasized that ads will not affect ChatGPT’s responses and that user conversations will remain private from advertisers. According to the company, advertisements are meant to help fund wider access to advanced features without compromising reliability for personal or critical use cases.

The rollout has drawn attention in the competitive AI market. Rival Anthropic recently ran Super Bowl ads mocking the concept of advertising within AI interactions, portraying intrusive ads as disruptive to the user experience.

The campaign prompted a strong reaction from OpenAI’s leadership, underscoring growing tensions among major AI players. User resistance to advertising in AI tools has been noticeable, with OpenAI facing criticism during earlier ad-like experiments. Despite this, the company assures that ads will be clearly labeled, separated from organic content, and excluded from sensitive categories like health, politics, and mental health. Users under 18 will not see ads.

OpenAI has highlighted user control, allowing individuals to dismiss ads, review their ad interaction history, and adjust personalization settings at any time.