If you found AI-generated content oversaturation annoying, brace yourself—OpenAI is now preparing to introduce advertising to your favorite generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT.
The company recently announced plans to roll out ads within ChatGPT, starting in the United States. This rollout will be gradual and streamlined over the course of the year, coinciding with the buildup to the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, a period typically marked by intense campaigning and an influx of commercials.
OpenAI revealed the ad rollout details through its social media channels this week. According to the announcement, ads will primarily appear on the lower-priced and free tiers of ChatGPT. Here’s what the company shared:
> “In the coming weeks, we plan to start testing ads in ChatGPT free and Go tiers. We’re sharing our principles early on how we’ll approach ads—guided by putting user trust and transparency first as we work to make AI accessible to everyone.”
OpenAI also clarified key points regarding how these ads will be integrated:
– Responses generated by ChatGPT will not be influenced by ads.
– Ads will be distinctly separate from AI responses and clearly labeled.
– User conversations will remain private and inaccessible to advertisers.
– Users subscribed to the Pro, Business, and Enterprise tiers will experience an ad-free ChatGPT.
The timing of this test run raises some concern, especially given the history of social media platforms like Twitch and YouTube hosting a surge of political ads ahead of major elections. With the 2026 midterms approaching, the presence of ads in ChatGPT could bring a new frontier for political marketing.
Adding to this context, former President Trump’s administration invested heavily in expanding AI infrastructure in the U.S., making regulatory challenges to AI companies like OpenAI less likely in the near future.
As OpenAI moves forward with its advertising plans, users and observers alike will be watching closely to see how these changes impact the ChatGPT experience, especially during such a politically charged period.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/147463/openai-sam-altman-chatgpt-ads