OpenAI ChatGPT Ad Pilot Reaches $100 Million Revenue in Six Weeks

TLDR

• OpenAI’s ChatGPT ad pilot crossed $100 million in annualized revenue in under six weeks
• Over 600 advertisers are now working with OpenAI on the program
• Only 20% of eligible users see ads daily, leaving room to grow
• Ads appear below ChatGPT answers and do not influence responses
• OpenAI plans to expand the program to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

OpenAI’s advertising pilot for ChatGPT has reached $100 million in annualized revenue in less than two months since launching in the United States. The company confirmed the figure through a spokesperson on March 26, 2026.

The pilot began in January 2026, when OpenAI said it would test ads with free-tier users and those on its lower-cost Go plan. The ads appear at the bottom of ChatGPT’s responses and are clearly labeled.

OpenAI has said the ads do not affect the chatbot’s answers. User conversations are also not shared with advertisers.

More than 600 advertisers are now part of the program. Nearly 80% of small and medium-sized businesses involved have signaled interest in continuing with ChatGPT ads.

About 85% of free and Go plan users in the United States are eligible to see ads. However, fewer than 20% are shown ads on any given day.

Users under 18 will not see ads. Ads will also not appear near content related to politics, health, or mental health.

Slow Rollout by Design

Some advertisers have expressed frustration with the pace of the rollout, according to earlier CNBC reporting. OpenAI said the gradual approach was intentional.

OpenAI reported low dismissal rates for ads and said it has seen no negative impact on consumer trust metrics so far.

The company also cited ongoing improvements in ad relevance as it collects feedback from users and brands.

New Hire and Global Expansion

David Dugan, a former Meta ads executive, was named this week to lead OpenAI’s global advertising solutions team. The hire points to the company’s plans to build out its ad business more formally.

OpenAI is also planning to launch self-serve advertiser tools in April. This would allow businesses to set up and manage campaigns without going through the company directly.

The program is set to expand internationally in the coming weeks, with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand named as the next markets.

The ad push has not gone without criticism. Rival Anthropic targeted the move directly in its first-ever Super Bowl ad, mocking OpenAI’s decision to introduce advertising into an AI assistant.

OpenAI said it is encouraged by early signals from both users and participating brands and that strong advertiser interest continues.

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