OpenAI to test visual ChatGPT advertisements in the US

OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT's advertising capabilities with a new visual format. Testing for these visual advertisements is scheduled to begin in the United States in late October 2026.

These ads will appear during the image generation process, displayed separately from the generated content to clearly identify them as sponsored. For example, a user designing a room might see ads for furniture. The ads will be available to users on Free and Go accounts, but not to those on Plus, Pro, or business plans.

OpenAI has stated that advertisers will not be able to access private user conversations or influence the AI's responses. The company aims to use the broader context of a conversation to provide relevant product suggestions, such as showing appliance ads to a user comparing washing machines. While the company promises a separation between private dialogue and advertising, the move follows reports of ChatGPT reaching 1.2 billion weekly users.