Since February 2026, ChatGPT shows sponsored ads to users on its free and low-cost Go tiers, matched to the topic of the current conversation. Someone asking about recipes might see an ad for a grocery delivery service. Ads are clearly labeled as sponsored and appear separately from ChatGPT's answers, which OpenAI says are never influenced by advertisers.

OpenAI announced the program on January 16, 2026 and began live testing on February 9, 2026, initially limited to logged-in adults in the United States. Ads are matched using conversation topic, past chat history, and previous ad interactions, but OpenAI states that individual chat logs are never shared with advertisers — only aggregated metrics like views and clicks. Ads will not be shown to users under 18, and they are blocked from appearing near sensitive topics including mental health, politics, and health. The paid tiers — Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education — remain ad-free. Omnicom Media confirmed more than 30 client brands are participating in the initial pilot, including agencies across multiple consumer categories.