OpenAI projects it will generate $2.5 billion in advertising revenue by 2026. Private forecasts show this figure reaching $100 billion by 2030. The company expects to reach 2.75 billion weekly users by the end of the decade. This strategy aims to capture market share from dominant players Google and Meta.
OpenAI is currently testing ads on free and lower-priced tiers in the U.S. An early pilot generated $100 million in annualized revenue within its first six weeks. More than 600 advertisers participated in the initial U.S. testing phase. Ad revenue will fund high development costs and make AI tools more accessible.
Analysts believe the move could create a multi-billion dollar business for the company. The transition to an ad-supported model raises questions regarding user experience and trust.