ChatGPT ads are coming, and they'll be influenced by your conversations

AXIOS January 16, 2026
Megan Morrone, Kerry Flynn

ChatGPT will soon show ads alongside chats, OpenAI announced Friday.

Why it matters: The party’s over. The company behind the world’s most popular chatbot needs to make money.

OpenAI will begin testing advertising on its free and $8 per month Go tier in the U.S. in the coming weeks.

How it works: ChatGPT’s responses won’t be influenced by advertisers, OpenAI says. But ads will be influenced by conversations.

Personalization will be on by default, with an opt-out.
Ads will be separated from chats and labeled “Sponsored.”
OpenAI says conversations will be kept private and data will not be sold to advertisers.

Between the lines: Ads in chatbots were always inevitable — and concerning, given how much sensitive personal...

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