ChatGPT users may soon start seeing ads inside their chats.
On Monday, February 9, 2026, OpenAI said it’s beginning to test advertising in ChatGPT, rolling out clearly labeled “Sponsored” links that appear at the bottom of some answers. The company says the sponsored units are separate from the model’s response and won’t influence what ChatGPT says.
Where ads will show up (and who won’t see them)
For now, OpenAI’s test is aimed at logged-in adults in the U.S. on two tiers: Free and the new $8/month “Go” plan.
If you’re paying for Plus ($20/month) or higher—Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education—OpenAI says you won’t see ads during this test.
The “Free tier” opt-out (with a catch)
OpenAI is offering a way to avoid ads on the Free plan: users can opt out of ads in exchange for fewer daily free messages. That’s effectively a trade—either accept sponsored links or accept tighter usage limits.
On the Go plan, OpenAI’s messaging and major reporting indicate there’s no opt-out—though Go users can still manage ad controls and dismiss specific ads.
What controls users get
Even if you’re eligible for ads, OpenAI says not every chat will show them. And when ads do appear, Free and Go users should be able to:
- Dismiss an ad and send feedback
- Turn off ad personalization
- Disable ads based on chat history
- Delete ad data
OpenAI also says advertisers will receive only aggregated metrics (like ad views and clicks), not the contents of your conversations.
Sensitive topics are excluded
OpenAI says ads won’t appear for users under 18, and the company is also excluding ads from certain sensitive or regulated topics, including areas like health, mental health, and politics.
This has been building for weeks—and rivals are already taking shots
OpenAI previewed its direction on ads in a post published on January 16, 2026, framing advertising as a way to expand access while keeping paid tiers ad-free.
The timing has also fueled a very public rivalry moment. During Super Bowl LIX, Anthropic aired a commercial criticizing the idea of ads inside AI conversations, ending with the line: “There is a time and place for ads. Your conversations with AI should not be one of them.” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman criticized the spot as “dishonest,” according to reporting.