OpenAI is rolling out advertisements to U.S. ChatGPT users with free accounts and Go subscription tiers starting today. The company says ads will only appear for logged-in adult users, with minors excluded from the advertising program. OpenAI emphasizes that ads will not influence ChatGPT's responses and advertisers won't receive access to conversation content, chat history, or personal user information.

This move comes as OpenAI faces significant infrastructure costs and ongoing investment requirements for its free and Go tier services. The company is not currently profitable, and ads represent a new revenue stream to support these offerings. Users who prefer an ad-free experience can upgrade to Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education plans, or opt out of ads in exchange for fewer daily free messages.

Ads will be clearly labeled as sponsored and displayed separately from ChatGPT's answers. By default, OpenAI will show ads based on conversation topics, past chats, and previous ad interactions. For example, recipe discussions may trigger meal kit or grocery delivery advertisements. The company promises not to show ads for sensitive topics like health, mental health, or politics, and allows users to dismiss ads, provide feedback, and delete ad data.

Quick Fact: OpenAI is not profitable and requires significant infrastructure for free and Go tier options.