OpenAI made an important move in the world of artificial intelligence on February 9, 2026: it began advertising tests on ChatGPT. This step has the potential to deeply affect not only OpenAI’s business model but also the digital advertising world and user experience. As Byte, we are comprehensively examining what this development means for businesses and digital marketing strategies.
1. ChatGPT Advertising Tests: Basic Information
The advertising tests that OpenAI launched on ChatGPT provide important clues about the future of advertising on AI‑powered platforms. Here are the key details you need to know:
Which Users Will See Ads on ChatGPT?
OpenAI’s advertising strategy adopts a transparent approach based on user segmentation in ChatGPT’s pricing:
-
Free users – will see ads
-
ChatGPT Go subscribers ($8/month) – will see ads
-
Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education subscribers – ad‑free experience
The test phase is currently limited to adult users in the United States. Users under 18 will not see ads on ChatGPT under any circumstances.
What Will Ads Look Like on ChatGPT?
To preserve the user experience, OpenAI has set certain standards for how ads are presented:
-
Placement – ads will appear below ChatGPT’s answer
-
Labeling – all ads will be clearly marked as sponsored
-
Visual separation – ads will be visually separated from organic answers
-
Contextual relevance – ads will be matched to the topic of the conversation
Important: OpenAI emphasizes that ads do not affect ChatGPT’s answers and that the responses are optimized solely to present the most useful information to the user.
2. Privacy and Data Security in ChatGPT Ads
Showing ads on AI platforms inevitably raises privacy concerns. OpenAI has said that it follows a transparent policy on this issue.
What Can Advertisers Not Access on ChatGPT?
-
Chat content and chat history
-
User memory (memories)
-
Name, email, precise location information
-
IP address
-
Sensitive topics (health, politics)
What Can Advertisers Access on ChatGPT?
-
Aggregated performance data (views, click counts)
-
General contextual context (conversation level)
-
Language preference
Note: Personalized ads are enabled by default. Users can turn this feature off in the settings and opt out of ad personalization.
No Ads on Sensitive Topics in ChatGPT
OpenAI has committed not to show ads on certain topics:
-
Health‑related conversations
-
Mental health‑related conversations
-
Political topics
-
Users under 18
3. Opportunities for Advertisers on ChatGPT
ChatGPT offers unique advantages for advertising‑platform marketers. Unlike traditional digital ad channels, users encounter ads while they are actively searching for information and during their decision‑making process. ChatGPT ads are matched to the user’s immediate need:
-
Instant intent – the user is researching a specific topic
-
Topic match – ads are directly related to the subject of the conversation
-
Moment of decision – the user is in the information‑gathering and decision‑making stage
Note: This contextual targeting has a logic similar to search advertising on Google Ads but offers a deeper conversational context.
How Can You Advertise on ChatGPT?
OpenAI has opened registration for businesses to access the advertising platform at openai.com/advertisers Currently the advertising platform on ChatGPT is in a test phase with limited access. Additional formats, targeting and purchasing models will be added in the future.
4. User Controls in ChatGPT Ads
ChatGPT offers various options to give you control over your advertising experience.
Ways to Avoid Ads on ChatGPT
-
Switch to a paid plan – a Plus ($20/month) or Pro ($200/month) subscription provides a completely ad‑free experience.
-
Free ad‑free mode – free users can disable ads, but their daily message limits will be reduced.
Personalization Settings
Users can do the following:
-
Turn off ads
-
Learn why they saw this ad
-
Send feedback
-
Delete ad data with one tap
5. Strategic Recommendations for Businesses
As Byte, we evaluated the potential and risks that the ChatGPT advertising platform carries for businesses. Here are the advantages of the platform:
-
Low competition – an advertising environment that is not yet crowded
-
Learning advantage – the opportunity to understand the platform dynamics early
-
Direct communication with OpenAI – more support during the beta period
Points to Consider
-
Your ChatGPT ads should provide meaningful answers to users’ natural questions.
-
OpenAI follows a strict policy to block misleading or harmful ads.
-
ChatGPT’s ad platform will continue to evolve; brands need flexible and long‑term strategies.
The Future of Advertising with Artificial Intelligence
The advertising tests on ChatGPT mark the beginning of a new era in digital advertising. OpenAI’s transparent, privacy‑focused and user‑controlled approach sets a positive standard for the advertising sector. Adapting to this new vision that will expand and deepen over time and defining long‑term e‑commerce strategies will be indispensable for brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
In which countries do ChatGPT ads appear?
Currently they are only being tested in the United States. OpenAI has stated that it plans to expand to other countries after evaluating user feedback.
Do ChatGPT ads influence the answers?
No. OpenAI has explicitly stated that ads do not influence ChatGPT’s answers in any way. The responses are optimized solely to provide the user with the most useful information.
Can I turn off the ads completely?
Yes. By switching to a paid plan you can get a completely ad‑free experience, or you can stay on the free plan and turn off the ads (but your message limits will decrease).
Are my conversations shared with advertisers?
No. OpenAI guarantees that your chat contents, personal information and sensitive topics will never be shared with advertisers.
How can my business advertise on ChatGPT?
For businesses that want to advertise, you can register at openai.com/advertisers.
Recent Posts
