OpenAI to Test Ads on ChatGPT as Costs Soar

OpenAI announced Friday that it will begin testing advertisements on ChatGPT in the coming weeks, a move aimed at boosting revenue to cover the chatbot’s growing operational costs.

Initially, ads will appear in the United States for free and lower-tier subscribers, while Premium Pro and Enterprise users will remain ad-free, the company said in a blog post.

Integrating ads into generative AI services has long been a sensitive topic, as companies try to maintain a smooth user experience. However, the high costs of running AI systems may have pushed OpenAI to explore new revenue streams. Only a small fraction of ChatGPT’s nearly one billion users pay for subscriptions, putting pressure on the company to monetize more broadly.

Since its 2022 launch, ChatGPT has helped OpenAI achieve a valuation of $500 billion in funding rounds—higher than any other private company. Some analysts expect a potential public listing could value the company at over a trillion dollars. Despite this, the platform spends heavily on the computing power required to support its AI services.

By introducing ads, OpenAI is aligning more closely with tech giants like Google and Meta, which fund free services through advertising. Analysts note that ads could help OpenAI sustain its AI race.

“Ads aren’t a distraction from the generative AI race; they’re how OpenAI stays in it,” said Jeremy Goldman, an Emarketer analyst. “If ChatGPT turns on ads, OpenAI is acknowledging that the competition isn’t just about model quality anymore—it’s about monetizing attention while maintaining user trust.”