OpenAI Tests Ads in ChatGPT, Balancing User Experience and Revenue Amid Rising Costs
February 9, 2026
The rollout is driven by OpenAI’s high operating costs and aims to broaden revenue as funding and valuation rise, with reports of a multi-hundred-billion dollar backing context.
Advertisers are restricted from sensitive topics such as dating, financial services, and politics, and content related to health or mental health is avoided to protect user safety.
Ad personalization will be enabled by default for some users, using current conversations, memory, location, and ad interaction history to tailor ads unless users opt out.
ChatGPT’s rapid growth since 2022 and ongoing high computing costs frame the context for this monetization test.
The story highlights the balance between user experience, privacy, and advertising revenue in AI platform monetization.
Discussions also touch on governance, AI’s societal impact, and regulatory scrutiny as monetization models evolve.
OpenAI has begun testing ads inside ChatGPT for free US users with an ad-supported Go tier, where ads appear after responses and are clearly labeled, without influencing answers.
The move reflects a broader industry shift from rapid user growth to sustainable monetization through diversified revenue streams.
Analysts view this as a step toward monetizing AI infrastructure in the US amid cost pressures.
The monetization effort could set a benchmark if it preserves trust; failures could push the industry toward subscription-first or API-licensing models.
OpenAI emphasizes transparency and user choice as central to monetization, signaling ongoing coverage about costs and infrastructure needs.
The development fits into a broader tech media landscape discussing AI monetization and related revenue strategies.
Summary based on 62 sources
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Sources

The Verge • Feb 9, 2026
ChatGPT’s cheapest options now show you ads
TechCrunch • Feb 9, 2026
ChatGPT rolls out ads
Business Insider • Feb 9, 2026
ChatGPT has started showing ads to some US users
Mashable • Feb 9, 2026
ChatGPT ads: OpenAI is rolling them out now