OpenAI has announced that it will initiate testing of advertisements on ChatGPT in the upcoming weeks, paving the way for an additional revenue stream alongside its existing subscription models.
The advertisements will be displayed at the bottom of the chat interface when a relevant sponsored product or service aligns with the ongoing conversation. This was detailed in a recent blog post by OpenAI.
For instance, if a user seeks recommendations for authentic Mexican dishes, ChatGPT might suggest options like carne asada and pollo al carbon, followed by a link to a grocery brand that promotes hot sauce.
Only users of the free version of ChatGPT or the newly introduced low-cost subscription plan, ChatGPT Go, will encounter these ads. Users of higher-tier subscriptions, such as the Pro plan priced at $200 per month, will not see advertisements, according to OpenAI.
When inquired about the duration of the ad testing phase and whether there are plans to broaden the advertising presence, an OpenAI representative indicated that initial user feedback and quality metrics would be assessed to determine the viability of expanding this feature.
OpenAI assured that the advertisements would not affect the responses generated by ChatGPT and confirmed that user conversations and data would remain private, not being shared with advertisers.
The company has not yet disclosed which brands will be advertised through ChatGPT but mentioned that it would provide updates on early partners soon.
OpenAI characterized the rollout of ads as a means to maintain accessibility for users of its free and low-cost chatbot versions. The company stated, “Our enterprise and subscription businesses are already strong, and we believe in having a diverse revenue model where ads can play a part in making intelligence more accessible to everyone.”
Since its launch in 2022, OpenAI has been valued at $500 billion but has yet to achieve profitability, as reported by CNBC in November.
During a podcast interview last year, CEO Sam Altman downplayed the significance of advertisements within OpenAI’s overall revenue strategy, noting, “I expect it’s something we’ll try at some point. I do not think it is our biggest revenue opportunity.”
