OpenAI will begin testing advertisements within its ChatGPT service starting in early February 2026. The initial rollout targets free and low-cost "Go" tier users in the United States. The company is currently approaching major brands to solicit investment for the pilot phase.
This initiative seeks to monetize a platform that reaches over 800 million weekly active users. The move allows OpenAI to diversify its revenue streams beyond monthly subscriptions. This strategy creates a new revenue channel for both OpenAI and its primary partner, Microsoft.
Advertisements will be contextually relevant and appear with labels at the bottom of the interface. These placements will remain separate from the AI-generated responses. OpenAI maintains that user conversations will remain private and will not be shared with advertisers.
The move positions ChatGPT as a significant new competitor in the digital advertising sector. This development directly challenges the market dominance of established search giants such as Google.