The ads will appear in the sidebar of the ChatGPT interface and are expected to roll out in the coming weeks, initially targeting users in select markets.
CEO Sam Altman addressed the change in a post on X, stating: “We believe this is the right way to keep ChatGPT free and accessible while funding continued development.” Altman added that revenue from ads will support ongoing improvements to model capabilities, safety measures, and infrastructure costs.
The decision follows months of speculation about OpenAI’s path to profitability. The company has relied heavily on subscription revenue and investments from Microsoft, which holds a significant stake and provides cloud computing through Azure.
OpenAI reported $3.7 billion in annualized revenue in late 2025 but continues to incur substantial losses due to high training and inference expenses.
Critics have expressed concern that introducing ads could degrade user trust or influence responses, particularly if advertisers gain any sway over model outputs. OpenAI said it will maintain strict separation between advertising and core AI functionality, with no advertiser access to user conversations or model training data.
Free-tier users currently face usage limits and slower response times during peak periods. Ads are expected to help subsidize unlimited access for non-paying users while preserving the core experience.
No additional details on ad formats, targeting methods, or revenue projections were shared. OpenAI has not indicated whether ads will appear in the mobile app or API integrations.
