ChatGPT May Start Showing Ads: Free Users Could See Sponsored Content
OpenAI may introduce ads in ChatGPT free version. Beta code shows possible sponsored content, changing how millions of users interact with the app.
image for illustrative purpose
Based on the code of the beta version of the Android app, it seems that OpenAI is considering to position ads within its ChatGPT application. Developer Tibor Blaho made the screenshots available on X, showcasing the mentions of the terms: "ads feature," "search ad," and "bazaar content."
The version 1.2025.329 beta is still not available to the public, but the finding has already raised questions about how OpenAI will monetize ChatGPT, particularly for those who do not want to pay for the service. The app has already placed restrictions on the amount of usage for non-paying customers, and advertisement could be a way to earn revenue that could be used to offset the increasing operational costs of AI models.
This latest move fits in with previous reports from The Information that suggested OpenAI was contemplating ways to bring ads to the ChatGPT platform. Although not much is known about it, the code indicates that ads could be inserted in the middle of searches, responses from the chatbot, or as suggestions that have been sponsored.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI has already talked about the issue of ads in the context of AI platforms. He was at Harvard Business School and mentioned that the combination of AI and advertising would be “uniquely unsettling” and that it would be framed as a last resort to a business model. He also mentioned in the recent OpenAI podcast that the company is still open to testing ads, even though he did not specify the location or the manner in which ads would be placed.
For the millions of users that have access to the tool at no cost, the presence of ads may significantly change the perception of ChatGPT as a reliable research, writing assistance, and a daily inquiries tool. The interface will be either more or less informative for professionals, students, and casual users on account of the changes in ad placement or suggestion display.
At present, the ad feature is still going through initial testing and has not been available to regular users. The decision reveals OpenAI's continuous attempts to find a sweet spot between getting paid and pleasing the users while the company goes through the costly process of keeping up AI systems at the cutting edge.
