OpenAI Adds Ads to ChatGPT: Free Service or Paid Plan?
OpenAI is preparing to launch ads within the popular chatbot ChatGPT, starting Monday, February 9, 2026, to be shown to users of the free service and the Go plan, while higher-cost paid plans will remain ad-free.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNBC that ads will appear below responses, tailored to be relevant to user queries, in a move that CEO Sam Altman previously described as the "last resort" for the company.
This announcement came after OpenAI stated earlier that ads would start "in the coming weeks," making the launch seem a bit early.
This move has not gone without reaction, as competitor Anthropic took advantage of the backlash against the ads, running a campaign during the Super Bowl that criticizes OpenAI's decision, which Altman deemed clearly deceptive in an angry tweet.
On a positive note, Altman revealed to company employees via Slack that ChatGPT has returned to record monthly growth exceeding 10%, according to CNBC, reflecting its continued popularity despite challenges and increasing competition.
With this move, ChatGPT enters a new phase, balancing between offering a free ad-supported service and ad-free paid plans, in a fierce race with its competitors in the artificial intelligence realm.
