OpenAI launched ads in ChatGPT on February 9, 2026 for Free and Go tier users in the US. Ads are matched based on conversation context and chat history, but advertisers only receive aggregate metrics—no access to your chats. Topics like health, politics, and content for minors are excluded. Paid subscribers (Plus, Pro, Enterprise) see no ads.
Who Sees Ads?
OpenAI is testing ads with two user groups: the Free tier and the new Go subscription ($8/month). If you're on Plus ($20/month), Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education plans, you won't see any advertisements.
Users under 18 are also excluded from seeing ads, as are conversations about sensitive topics like health, mental health, and politics.
How Targeting Works
When you see an ad, ChatGPT has matched it based on three signals: the topic of your current conversation, your past chat history, and your previous interactions with ads.
For example, if you're researching recipes, you might see ads for meal kits or grocery delivery. The ad appears below ChatGPT's response, clearly labeled as sponsored and visually separated from the answer.
"Ads do not influence the answers ChatGPT gives you. Answers are optimized based on what's most helpful to you. Ads are always separate and clearly labeled."— OpenAI
Privacy Protections
OpenAI emphasizes that advertisers never see your conversations. They receive only aggregate performance data: total views, clicks, and similar metrics. No individual chat content is shared.
The AI model itself doesn't know when ads are being shown. According to OpenAI executive Assad Awan, the model "can't reference them unless a user explicitly asks about one."
User Controls
Users can manage their ad experience in several ways:
- Dismiss ads — Remove specific ads you don't want to see
- View ad info — Learn why you're seeing a particular ad
- Delete ad data — Clear your ad history with one tap
- Disable personalization — See only context-based ads, not history-based
- Upgrade — Move to a paid plan to remove ads entirely
What This Means for Marketers
ChatGPT represents a new advertising surface with unique characteristics. Unlike search ads (intent-based) or social ads (interest-based), ChatGPT ads are conversation-based—they match the context of an ongoing dialogue.
OpenAI is charging advertisers on a cost-per-view model based on total impressions. Early testing will focus on usefulness and relevance over volume, suggesting the company is prioritizing quality placements.
For brands, this opens a channel to reach users in a research and decision-making mindset. Someone asking ChatGPT "what's the best meal kit service?" is arguably more qualified than someone scrolling Instagram.