GPT Ads in the United States. OpenAI officially announces advertisements in ChatGPT

3min.

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21 January 2026

GPT Ads in the United States. OpenAI officially announces advertisements in ChatGPTd-tags
OpenAI has officially confirmed what the marketing industry has been speculating about for months: advertisements will appear in ChatGPT. For now, this is in the testing phase, exclusively in the United States and only for logged-in adult users using the free plan and the new ChatGPT Go subscription. What does this mean? Read on to find out!

3min.

Comments:0

21 January 2026

How Will ChatGPT Ads Work?

According to the official OpenAI statement, ads in ChatGPT will be clearly separated from the model’s responses and will not influence their content. This is a crucial declaration because the foundation of ChatGPT is the user’s trust in the quality and objectivity of the answers. OpenAI emphasises that the responses are not \”bought\” by advertisers, and ads serve as an additional feature that does not interfere with the core product.

For example, if a user asks ChatGPT to help plan a trip, they might see an ad for a hotel, airline, or tourist attraction.

Although these are initial tests in the USA, there is little doubt that this marks the beginning of a new stage in digital marketing.

OpenAI also emphasises that:

  • user conversations are not sold to advertisers,
  • ad personalisation can be turned off,
  • ads will not appear in sensitive topics (health, politics, mental health),
  • underage users will not see any ads at all.

The ad is meant to be an addition, not a part that influences the answer. This means that the brand does not \”buy a response\”; it only appears at the right moment in the conversation—when the context allows it, adds value, and fits the user’s intent.

What About User Data Privacy?

OpenAI strongly emphasises privacy and the independence of responses. For a good reason. ChatGPT is a tool to which users entrust professional, financial, and sometimes very personal matters. Any breach of trust would be a serious setback.

Therefore, ChatGPT ads will operate under clearly defined rules: no data sales, no sharing of conversations with advertisers, and the ability to turn off ad personalisation. In addition, ads will not appear in sensitive topics, and they will be completely disabled for minors.

Why Is OpenAI Launching Ads Now?

The timing of this announcement is not accidental. According to Similarweb data, ChatGPT’s share of global AI chatbot traffic has dropped from 86% to 64% year over year, while Google Gemini has grown to 21%. On the other hand, the company faces enormous AI infrastructure development costs, measured in hundreds of billions of dollars.

Ads are therefore a natural step towards a scalable revenue model that does not rely solely on subscriptions. At the same time, the announcement of ad tests is an effective way to attract attention from the market, media, and investors again.

It is worth noting that OpenAI is not pursuing quick monetisation at any cost. The communication around ChatGPT Ads is cautious, strongly based on values and the long-term vision of the product.

Are ChatGPT Ads the New Google Ads?

Not necessarily.

One of the biggest mistakes at this stage would be to treat ChatGPT Ads as another performance channel like Google Ads. ChatGPT currently generates relatively few outbound clicks, and users often complete their decision-making process within the conversation itself.

This means the role of ChatGPT Ads will be different. Instead of directly generating leads or sales, their importance lies in:

  • building brand awareness at the moment of real need,
  • positioning the offer as a recommended solution,
  • influencing decisions before the user even reaches a search engine.

In this sense, ChatGPT Ads are closer to display or content campaigns but with much deeper context and higher intent quality.

What Do GPT Ads Tests Mean for Marketing Strategy?

The introduction of ads into ChatGPT accelerates a process we’ve been observing for several years: bringing the point of contact with the brand closer to the decision moment. Users no longer want ten articles and comparisons—they increasingly expect one meaningful answer.

Today, integrating SEO, content, branding, and performance into a cohesive strategy is essential. Visibility in AI ecosystems will depend not only on budget but also on the quality of communication, brand credibility, and alignment with user intent.

How Delante Is Preparing for ChatGPT Ads

Following the announcement of ChatGPT Ads tests in the USA, it became clear that preparations for the global rollout are necessary. At Delante, we are monitoring these changes closely and analysing every step. This means one thing: as soon as the channel becomes available, we will launch campaigns with a ready plan and structured strategy.

Already, we are preparing brands for ChatGPT Ads in terms of strategy, data, creative, and measurement. The goal is that when tests and availability expand, your company does not start from scratch but can immediately implement an effective plan and organised execution system. Check out the details of our offer!

We are preparing brands to enter ChatGPT Ads

Check out our offer now!

Let's discuss ChatGPT Ads!
Karolina Pyznar
Tomek Gniecki
Jerzy Cygan

Sources:

  1. https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001047-ads-in-chatgpt
  2. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/16/tech/chatgpt-ads-openai
  3. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-gemini-gains-share-as-chatgpt-declines-in-similarweb-data/564690/
  4. https://www.wired.com/story/openai-testing-ads-us/
Author
Marcin Polak - Junior SEO Specialist
Author
Marcin Polak

Junior SEO Specialist

Junior SEO Specialist with experience in copywriting. He has been with Delante since 2023, where he combines creative writing with an analytical approach to SEO. A graduate of the Jagiellonian University (Journalism and Social Communication, Sports Management). Outside of work, he is an active fan of sports, cooking, and TV series.

Author
Marcin Polak - Junior SEO Specialist
Author
Marcin Polak

Junior SEO Specialist

Junior SEO Specialist with experience in copywriting. He has been with Delante since 2023, where he combines creative writing with an analytical approach to SEO. A graduate of the Jagiellonian University (Journalism and Social Communication, Sports Management). Outside of work, he is an active fan of sports, cooking, and TV series.