OpenAI has officially begun testing advertisements within ChatGPT. The company announced this change in a recent blog post, targeting free users and those on the Go subscription tier in the United States. This marks a significant shift in how the popular AI chatbot generates revenue beyond its premium subscription model.
Who Will See the Ads
The ad testing is limited to logged-in adult users. Anyone under the age of 18 will not see any advertisements while using the service. Users with Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education subscriptions will continue to enjoy an ad-free experience. This tiered approach creates a clear distinction between paying customers and those using the free tier.
How the Ad System Works
Advertisements in ChatGPT will appear separately from chat responses and will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored." Importantly, OpenAI has confirmed that these ads will not influence or alter the answers provided by the chatbot. The company is taking steps to ensure the integrity of its responses remains intact despite the introduction of monetization.
Free users do have the option to disable ads entirely. However, this comes with a trade-off. Those who opt out will face a reduced free message limit, making the ad-supported model the more practical choice for heavy users who do not want to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Privacy and Data Protection
Ad targeting will be based on several factors including past conversations, current chat topics, and previous interactions with advertisements. Despite this targeting approach, OpenAI has emphasized its commitment to user privacy. Advertisers will only receive data about how users interact with the ads themselves. The company explicitly states it will not share chat histories, memories, or any personal user information with third-party advertisers.
Content Restrictions and User Control
OpenAI has implemented specific content restrictions for its advertising program. Ads will not appear in conversations related to health, mental health, or political topics. This policy aims to prevent sensitive discussions from being monetized and to maintain appropriate boundaries around potentially vulnerable user interactions.
Users retain significant control over their advertising experience. ChatGPT provides options to dismiss specific ads, provide feedback on advertisements, understand why a particular ad is being shown, delete ad-related data, and personalize ad preferences according to individual comfort levels.
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