The ads will be displayed to users of the free version of ChatGPT and to those on cheaper subscriptions. The more expensive subscriptions will remain ad-free.
The move to show ads marks a turnaround for OpenAI. Sam Altman, the CEO of the U.S. company, has previously expressed his disapproval of advertising, describing it as a “last resort.” He has been concerned that users might not trust a chatbot as much if they think it is selling products.
OpenAI is not expected to turn a profit for several years. The advertising is seen as a way to strengthen the revenue base ahead of a possible IPO and offset the enormous costs of building and maintaining its AI systems.
