Artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI has begun testing ads within ChatGPT for users in the United States. Based on the company’s data, ChatGPT had 700 million weekly active users globally as of September 2025.
According to the company’s media advisory, advertisements will be shown to Free and Go subscribers. Premium paying users, including Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education subscribers, will not see ads.
“Ads help fund that work, supporting broader access to AI through higher-quality free and low-cost options, and enabling us to keep improving the intelligence and capabilities we offer over time,” the company said. “If you prefer not to see ads, you can upgrade to our Plus or Pro plans, or opt out of ads in the Free tier in exchange for fewer daily free messages.”
The company also addressed concerns about data privacy, saying that conversations between users and the AI chatbot remain private. It added that ads will not influence the responses provided by the chatbot.
However, advertisers will receive aggregate data on how their ads perform, such as the number of views or clicks.
Ads will be shown only to adult users. Users under 18, or those the chatbot identifies as minors, will not see advertisements. Ads will also not appear alongside regulated topics such as health, mental health, or politics.
“We’ll expand responsibly as safeguards mature and we learn from this test,” the company said.
OpenAI allows users to opt out of ads by subscribing to paid plans. Free and Go users can dismiss ads as they appear or delete ad data through the ad personalization management settings.
The company is also exploring partnerships with potential advertisers as it develops this initiative.
