OpenAI’s Ad Gambit: Will ChatGPT’s Users Pay the Price?

OpenAI is betting $64 billion on a gamble: Can it monetize ChatGPT’s 800 million users without making them want to delete the app?

The company will test ads in ChatGPT for free-tier and $8/month Go-tier users in the U.S., with ads appearing in labeled boxes below responses. OpenAI claims these ads will not influence chatbot answers. Paid tiers (Plus, Pro, Enterprise) will remain ad-free, a move designed to preserve revenue from its 10% of users who pay.

Advertisers will not gain access to user data—including age, location, interests, or chat history—and ads will exclude sensitive topics like health and politics. An OpenAI spokesperson said:

"Ad performance metrics will be shared but user data won’t be sold."

CEO Fidji Simo emphasized the company’s stance: "We prioritize user trust and experience over revenue." This aligns with ChatGPT’s current user base, where over 90% rely on free tiers.

Yet OpenAI raised $64 billion in funding last year but generated only a fraction in revenue, raising questions about long-term sustainability.