OpenAI to Expand Ads in Free ChatGPT Tiers

OpenAI announced plans to expand advertisements across its free and low-cost Go versions of ChatGPT for all users in the United States, with the rollout set to begin in the coming weeks. The initiative, building on a pilot program launched earlier this year, aims to introduce sponsored content at the bottom of AI-generated responses while maintaining the separation between advertisements and core conversational outputs.

The advertisements will appear clearly labeled as sponsored and positioned outside the primary response area, ensuring they do not influence the content or quality of ChatGPT's answers. OpenAI has emphasized that user conversations remain private, with no data shared or sold to advertisers. Users will have options to dismiss ads, provide feedback, and learn why a specific ad was shown. Protections include barring ads for individuals under 18, based on self-reporting or predictions, and avoiding placements near sensitive topics such as health, mental health, or politics. Higher-tier plans, including ChatGPT Plus at $20 per month, Pro at $200 per month, and options for businesses and enterprises, will remain entirely ad-free.

This expansion follows the integration...