"The internet has changed how people look for information. Rather than scrolling through links, millions now type full questions into AI chat tools and expect direct answers. With more than 800 million weekly active users, ChatGPT sits at the center of this shift, and it has become a default destination for everyday decision-making. That level of attention has not gone unnoticed by advertisers or by OpenAI itself."
"On Feb. 9, 2026, OpenAI launched ads inside ChatGPT. The ads appear for logged-in U.S. adults using the free tier or the $8-per-month ChatGPT Go tier. Higher-paid plans (Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise) will remain ad-free. Ads will appear separately from the chatbot's responses and will be clearly labeled as sponsored content. These ads will sit at the bottom of answers when there is a relevant product or service."
"Today, it processes hundreds of millions of daily prompts. This growth reflects a behavioral change: People now rely on AI chat tools for tasks they once handled through search engines like Google and Bing. OpenAI has raised roughly $64 billion from investors but generated only a fraction of that in revenue last year. Running AI systems at this scale is expensive, and most users never pay. The majority remain on the free tier, creating a need for sustainable monetization."
On Feb. 9, 2026, ChatGPT began showing ads to logged-in U.S. adults on the free and $8/month Go tiers, while Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans remain ad-free. Ads appear separately from chatbot responses, are clearly labeled as sponsored content, and show at the bottom of answers when a relevant product or service exists. OpenAI states that ads will not influence answers, user data will not be sold, and personalization is optional. No public ad platform is available yet. High operating costs, massive user growth, and a large free-user base drove the push for sustainable monetization.
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