OpenAI Might Bring Ads to ChatGPT Soon, and this change could reshape how millions use the chatbot daily. The company has now begun testing ads inside the platform across web and mobile apps.
Early screenshots and hidden code confirm the shift. This move could help OpenAI create new revenue while giving users more plan choices in the future.
OpenAI Might Bring Ads to ChatGPT Soon: Early Tests and Hidden Code
OpenAI has quietly started testing ads on ChatGPT, and several users have already noticed them. A user posted a screenshot that showed a clear bottom banner with a Peloton fitness class ad.
The ad did not match the conversation topic, which confirms that OpenAI is not testing targeted ads yet. This is only an early display test to study how ads appear on the screen.
Another major hint came from engineer Tibor Blaho. He studied the ChatGPT Android app beta version 1.2025.329 and found multiple references to ads in the code. The strings included:
- “ads.feature”
- “ad target”
- “bazaar content”
- “search ad”
- “search ads carousel”
These lines suggest upcoming features such as targeted ads, product ads, and search-based ads. The “search ad carousel” hints at a scrolling bar that may show multiple ads together.
Even though this information sits deep in the app code, it clearly reveals OpenAI’s active work on an advertising system.
A second user, Yuchen Jin, also shared a screenshot showing a banner ad. This confirms that ads are not limited to Android code tests and may soon appear on the web platform too.
The user also stated the ad was unrelated to the chat topic, again confirming no targeting tests yet.
This development connects with older reports from August, when Fidji Simo joined OpenAI as CEO of Applications.
She previously led Facebook’s app team and strongly believes in ad-driven revenue. Her arrival reportedly pushed OpenAI to explore ads as a new income channel.
How Ads May Work for Users
Several code references repeatedly mention the word “search,” which suggests a possible direction. Ads may appear only when users ask ChatGPT to search the web, explore products, or research items.
This would make the ad experience similar to Google or Amazon search results. Nothing is confirmed yet, but this model could make ads less intrusive.If OpenAI eventually brings targeted ads, it may raise privacy concerns.
ChatGPT handles private conversations, so users worry about how data might be used. For now, the company has not confirmed any targeting model.
OpenAI currently offers several paid plans. The Plus plan costs 20 dollars monthly, while the Pro plan costs 200 dollars.
Business and education plans exist with their own pricing. Some countries also have the cheaper Go plan with limited features.
With ads coming, OpenAI may expand the Go plan globally as a low-cost option supported by ads. This fits leaked internal forecasts that mention one billion dollars from free user monetization by 2026.
OpenAI Might Bring Ads to ChatGPT Soon, and this will be a major shift for free users. Paid plans will likely stay ad-free, while free and Go users may start seeing ads inside chats or searches.
The company aims to balance revenue and user experience, but many details remain unknown. As testing continues, users should expect more visible changes across all ChatGPT platforms.
