ChatGPT developer OpenAI has started testing ads in the chatbot. Users in the U.S. on the Go and Free tiers are already seeing them.
Meanwhile, the chatbot remains ad-free for users on the Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education plans.
The company emphasized that ads do not affect ChatGPT’s responses and that chat content is not shared with advertisers.
«Keeping the Free and Go tiers fast and reliable requires significant infrastructure and ongoing investment. Ads help fund that work, supporting broader access to AI through higher-quality free and low-cost options, and enabling us to keep improving the intelligence and capabilities we offer over time,» OpenAI said in a statement.
The ads are planned to be tailored to users’ interests and conversation topics. For example, when searching for a recipe, a user may be shown an ad for a food delivery service. Every ad will be labeled «sponsored» to avoid confusion with a regular response.
Moreover, ads will not be shown to users under 18 years old or alongside content related to health, mental conditions or politics.
In turn, users will be able to manage their advertising data, including deleting interaction history and providing feedback.
