OpenAI Introduces Ads in ChatGPT: Free Service or Paid Plans?
OpenAI is set to introduce advertisements within its widely used chat application, ChatGPT, beginning on February 9, 2026. These ads will be visible to users of the free service and those on the Go plan, while higher-tier paid subscriptions will remain free of ads.
A source confirmed to CNBC that the advertisements will appear below user responses and will be tailored to align with user inquiries. CEO Sam Altman previously described this move as a "last resort" for the company.
This announcement follows an earlier statement from OpenAI indicating that ads would begin "in the coming weeks," making the timing of the launch somewhat unexpected.
The decision has not gone unnoticed, as competitor Anthropic took the opportunity to mock OpenAI's announcement, launching a campaign during the Super Bowl that criticized the move. Altman responded to this campaign on Twitter, labeling it misleading.
On a positive note, Altman informed employees via Slack that ChatGPT has returned to a monthly growth rate exceeding 10%, according to a CNBC report, indicating its sustained popularity despite increasing competition.
This development marks a new phase for ChatGPT, balancing the provision of a free ad-supported service with uninterrupted paid plans amid intensifying competition in the artificial intelligence sector.
