On January 16, OpenAI announced that it will introduce advertisements to the free and Go plans of ChatGPT. The rollout targets logged-in adult users residing in the United States, with testing expected to begin within a few weeks. The company stated that ads will be "clearly distinguished from organic responses and labeled."
Product LaunchesOpenAIChatGPTFidji Simo
OpenAI May Aim for $1 Billion in Ad Revenue by 2026
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Users will be able to check why an ad was displayed or hide it. The company also suggested the possibility of conversational ads, where users can ask follow-up questions about a product.
On the financial front, it is estimated that OpenAI will spend between $8 billion and $12 billion in 2025. However, its monthly active users have reached 800 million, with daily active users at approximately 190 million. Paid subscribers number 35 million, and business customers total 1 million companies.
Regarding revenue targets, reports indicate that OpenAI is anticipating $1 billion in ad revenue by 2026 and $25 billion by 2029. OpenAI has not officially confirmed these figures.
In comparison with competitors, cases where Perplexity charged over $50 CPM have been referenced. This is closer to the levels of premium video or top-tier search results, compared to $2–$6 for social feeds. OpenAI may similarly maintain a high price point.
Furthermore, OpenAI has appointed Fidji Simo, formerly of Meta, as "Application CEO." This newly created position will be responsible for overseeing the company's revenue engine.
Sources: Predicting OpenAI's ad strategy (HN 584pt, 535 comments) (HN Search (backfill), 2026-01-18)