OpenAI said Monday it has started testing advertisements in the US for users on its Free and Go subscription tiers.

The Go plan, priced at $8 per month in the US, is OpenAI’s newest low-cost subscription and was introduced globally in mid-January.

Users on paid plans, including Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education tiers, will not see ads, the company said.

In a blog post, OpenAI said advertising would not affect how ChatGPT responds to users and that conversations would remain private from advertisers.

The company said ads are intended to support broader access to more advanced ChatGPT features while maintaining user trust, particularly for personal or sensitive use cases.

Anthropic Mocks OpenAI

The decision, which OpenAI announced last month, became the target of ridicule in a series of Super Bowl commercials aired Sunday by rival AI company Anthropic.

The ads portrayed AI chatbots delivering advice alongside poorly targeted advertisements, using glassy-eyed actors to suggest how advertising could disrupt the user experience if poorly integrated.

OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman responded forcefully to the commercials, calling them dishonest and describing Anthropic as an authoritarian company.

Consumers have so far shown resistance to ads appearing in AI responses. OpenAI faced backlash late last year after testing app suggestions that some users viewed as unwanted advertisements.

Despite the pushback, OpenAI continues to look for ways to generate revenue to offset the high costs of developing AI systems and expanding its business.

How Ads Will Be Shown and Managed

OpenAI said ads will be clearly labeled as sponsored and kept separate from organic chatbot responses. The company denied that ads would influence answers, saying placement would be optimized based on what is most helpful to users.

In testing, ads have been matched to conversation topics, past chats, and previous ad interactions. For example, users researching recipes may see ads for grocery delivery services or meal kits.

OpenAI said advertisers will not receive access to individual user data and will only see aggregate performance metrics such as views and clicks.

User Controls

Users will be able to view and clear their ad interaction history, dismiss ads, submit feedback, see why an ad was shown, and manage personalization settings.

Ads will not be shown to users under 18 and will not appear near sensitive or regulated topics, including health, politics, or mental health.