ChatGPT ads are beginning to appear for some users in the United States, as OpenAI has started testing advertising within its chatbot. The ads are currently limited to users on ChatGPT’s Free and Go plans.

OpenAI had previously announced plans to introduce advertising, saying sponsored products and services would be relevant to a user’s ongoing conversation. Users can disable ad personalization and clear the data used for ads at any time.

“Our goal is for ads to support broader access to more powerful ChatGPT features while maintaining the trust people place in ChatGPT for important and personal tasks,” OpenAI said in a blog post. “We’re starting with a test to learn, listen and make sure we get the experience right.”

How ChatGPT Ads Will Appear

According to OpenAI, ChatGPT ads will appear at the bottom of chats and will be clearly labeled and visually separated from ChatGPT’s responses. The company emphasized that ads will not influence or alter the chatbot’s answers.

Ads will not be shown during conversations involving regulated or sensitive topics, including health, mental well-being, or politics. Users under the age of 18 will also not see ads during the testing phase.

OpenAI said it will not share or sell user conversations or personal data to advertisers.

Ads Expected to Be a Partial Revenue Stream

A source familiar with the company told CNBC that OpenAI expects ChatGPT ads to account for less than half of its long-term revenue. The company already earns revenue by taking a cut of purchases made through ChatGPT’s shopping integration feature.

CNBC also reported that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman informed staff that the company plans to deploy an updated ChatGPT model later this week.

Industry Context and Competitive Pressure

The test comes shortly after rival AI company Anthropic aired Super Bowl advertisements that criticized OpenAI for introducing ads. Anthropic’s messaging stated that while “ads are coming to AI,” they would not appear in its own chatbot, Claude.

As OpenAI continues testing ChatGPT ads, the company appears to be balancing monetization with user trust as competition in consumer AI intensifies.