ChatGPT is Going to Start Showing You Ads

OpenAI appears to be gearing up to introduce ads in ChatGPT, presumably for users who don't pay to access the chatbot.

openai chatgpt logo
Engineer Tibor Blaho recently found references to upcoming ad functionality in the ChatGPT Android app. Code strings mention search ads, a search ad carousel, and an ad API. Though ad mentions were found in the Android app, it's likely a change that's coming to ChatGPT on all platforms, including iOS, Mac, and the desktop.


Given the "search" wording, it's possible ads will be limited to web searches and shopping research requests.

Access to ChatGPT starts at $20 per month for the Plus plan, with a ChatGPT Pro plan available for $200 per month with higher access limits. There are also business and education plans, along with the current free plan. In other countries, OpenAI offers a cheaper "Go" plan that could also expand to the United States when ads roll out.

There have been rumors that OpenAI plans to gradually raise the price of ChatGPT access, and a plan restructuring with an ad-supported tier seems like the ideal time to make pricing changes.

As noted by Search Engine Land, OpenAI executives have been changing their messaging around ads over the course of the last 12 months. In late 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said ads were a "last resort," but in early 2025, leaked internal forecasts included $1 billion in "free user monetization" revenue in 2026. Earlier this year, Altman said that he loved Instagram ads and felt they were valuable. He said he thought OpenAI could find "some cool product ad" that's a "net win to the user."

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Top Rated Comments

germanbeer007 Avatar
9 weeks ago

The mass migration to Gemini continues.
If you think Google isn't going to inject ads into Gemini, boy do I have some news for you.
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vantelimus Avatar
9 weeks ago

Grok, here I come...
Grok doesn't have ads. Grok is an ad. It is one big ad for whatever Elon wants you to believe today.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diewish2007 Avatar
9 weeks ago
Oh, boy. People who "date" their AIs are going to love this, I bet.

"I had a horrible day today, babe."
"Sorry to hear that, honey — I'd recommend reaching out to today's sponsor: BetterHelp."
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dba415 Avatar
9 weeks ago
The mass migration to Gemini continues.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EM2013 Avatar
9 weeks ago

If you don't want ads, then pay for a subscription.
What about netflix & disney that charge you a subscription to watch ads ?

That’s the problem with everything these days. Every little thing is a subscription. I remember the days when you could pay one time for an app to get ad free, now subscriptions everywhere.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jrolson Avatar
9 weeks ago
Grok, here I come...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)