Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Why ads on ChatGPT matter
The launch and rise of ChatGPT have transformed how we interact with AI: asking questions, brainstorming ideas, generating content, seeking advice, shopping recommendations — all via a conversational interface. With millions of users and growing, it’s no surprise that monetisation is top of mind for OpenAI.
While subscription plans (e.g., ChatGPT Plus) are already a revenue stream, the question arises: how else can OpenAI monetise the large free-user base? One obvious lever is advertising. But when your product is a conversational AI, how do you do ads without disrupting the experience, eroding trust, or turning the system into “just another ad platform”? That’s the challenge.
Recently, Fidji Simo—OpenAI’s newly appointed CEO of Applications—gave some very pointed comments about how advertising could work inside ChatGPT. These remarks provide useful clues for what’s ahead.
2. Who is Fidji Simo and what she revealed
Fidji Simo joined OpenAI as CEO of Applications (reportedly in 2025) after a high-profile career at companies such as Meta/Facebook and Instacart. Her background: scaling mobile ad products, video advertising, and commerce platforms.
Why is this relevant? Because her expertise strongly hints that OpenAI is preparing to incorporate more business/monetisation models (beyond just subscriptions) into ChatGPT and other products.
In an interview (via WIRED / other tech publications), Simo was asked about advertising inside ChatGPT. Her key quotes:
“Advertising as a model works really well when you have a lot of commerce intent. We have a ton of it already, people coming and asking for shopping advice.”
“The important thing before we ever consider ads is making sure that our commerce experience is fantastic and that people come and really explore all the products that they want and get great recommendations.”
“Whatever we do is going to have to be extremely respectful of that. That’s why we haven’t announced anything on ads, because if we ever were to do anything, it would have to be a very different model than what has been done before.”
“What I’ve learned from building ad platforms is that the thing people don’t like about ads very often is not the ads themselves, it’s the use of the data behind the ads.”
In short: OpenAI is evaluating ads for ChatGPT, very cautiously.
3. The current business model of ChatGPT
Before diving into how ads could work, let’s review where ChatGPT is today.
Free tier: Users can interact with ChatGPT at no cost (with limitations).
Subscription tier(s): ChatGPT Plus (and perhaps more advanced enterprise tiers) provide enhanced features, faster access, priority, etc.
Additional integrations & enterprise licensing: OpenAI licenses its models and infrastructure to other companies, builds custom deployments, etc.
Why this matters: OpenAI’s growth trajectory likely depends on monetising the vast free user base too, and ads are a classic way to do that. But: inserting ads into a conversational AI presents unique friction points compared to display ads on a website.
4. What “ads” might look like inside ChatGPT
Based on Simo’s comments and prior reporting, we can sketch plausible ad-models for ChatGPT. Note: these are hypotheses—not official features yet.
a) Recommendation prompts tied to “commerce intent”
Since ChatGPT already receives many queries like “What laptop should I buy?” or “Suggest a good smartphone under ₹50,000”, OpenAI may target such sessions for commerce-oriented monetisation. Simo: “We have a ton of it already, people coming and asking for shopping advice.”
In this scenario, the system might present sponsored or partner-links to products after the user asks for recommendations. For example: after asking “Which digital camera is best for beginners?”, the response might include “You may also want to check out Brand X’s Model Y – here’s a link.”
b) Native, respectfully-integrated ads (not full banner takeover)
Simo emphasised “our commerce experience is fantastic” and “everything we do must be extremely respectful… would have to be a very different model than what has been done before.”
That suggests that ads won’t be intrusive pop-ups or pre-chat banners, but more native suggestions integrated into the conversational flow, and perhaps flagged as “sponsored” or “partnered”.
c) Leveraging the memory/continuity of ChatGPT
Back-in-the-works feature: ChatGPT’s “memory” that allows it to remember certain user preferences, past chats, etc. There are reports that this could become a targeting mechanism for ads, although Simo didn’t explicitly confirm.
For example, if ChatGPT knows you are a “running enthusiast” (from your earlier chats), and you ask “What’s next on my training plan?”, the system might suggest a particular pair of running shoes or gear. That starts to look like targeted product recommendation.
d) Affiliate / commerce-share model rather than direct ad display
Simo’s focus on “commerce” indicates that revenue may come via affiliate-links or product referrals rather than just showing generic display ads. The user asks, ChatGPT helps buy. The monetisation follows the transaction. This is somewhat less disruptive to user experience.
e) Optional ad-supported tier?
It’s possible that free-users might see some form of commerce-linked suggestions, while paying users (Plus) enjoy an ad-free or less commercialised experience.
5. Key constraints and concerns
As Simo pointed out, there are major considerations before OpenAI launches any ad model inside ChatGPT.
Privacy and trust
“What people don’t like about ads very often is not the ads themselves, it’s the use of the data behind the ads.” — Simo.
ChatGPT has access to a wide range of conversational context—from user questions to personal preferences. The risk: if ads exploit that data in unexpected ways, user trust could erode. Users might feel the chatbot is “selling out” or using private information for commercial gain.
Integrity of recommendations
Users expect impartial advice from ChatGPT. If recommendations are influenced by ad-dollars, that could conflict with perceived neutrality. Simo’s statement underscores this: ad integration must “be extremely respectful” and “different than what’s been done before.”
Experience disruption
If ads disrupt the flow of conversation (e.g., intrusive banners, irrelevant suggestions), the product’s value may diminish. Ensuring that the commerce experience is “fantastic” comes first, says Simo.
Regulatory, regional, and ethical concerns
With global users, data-protection laws (GDPR, India’s IT rules), ad-transparency norms, and varying user expectations will make ad rollout complex. Use of memory/personal data for commerce or ads could face scrutiny.
6. Why the “commerce intent” angle is pivotal
Fidji Simo’s emphasis on “commerce intent” is critical because it signals where ads may logically make sense inside ChatGPT.
Users already query ChatGPT for shopping advice, product lists, comparisons.
Unlike pure interactivity or casual chat, commerce queries imply readiness to purchase. Ads or product suggestions in that moment can feel natural and helpful rather than disruptive.
For OpenAI, the win-win: user gets recommendation, advertiser/affiliate gets a qualified lead, OpenAI gets monetised.
In other words, instead of showing random ads to all users irrespective of context, the model may target those moments when user-intent aligns with commerce. That aligns with Simo’s remark: “We have a ton of it already, people coming and asking for shopping advice.”
7. Implications for users, advertisers, and OpenAI
Users
More helpful product suggestions when they ask for shopping advice.
Potential for “premium” ad-free experience if user pays.
Concern: possibility of subtle bias or paid placements in responses—users will need to watch for transparency (“recommended because sponsored”, “affiliate link”).
Advertisers & commerce partners
New channel: conversational AI, where ads/recommendations sit inside a dialogue rather than ad-slots.
Opportunity to capture high-intent users.
Need to ensure alignment with user query and maintain relevance/trust; poorly matched recommendations could backfire.
OpenAI
Diversifies revenue beyond subscriptions.
Leverages large user base of free users.
Must manage monetisation carefully to preserve brand, trust, and utility of ChatGPT.
Must build transparent frameworks, user controls, opt-out options to handle ethical/regulatory scrutiny.
8. What remains uncertain
Despite the hints, many aspects are still open questions:
Timeline: No concrete date given by Simo or OpenAI for when ads will roll out inside ChatGPT. Simo said “we haven’t announced anything on ads,” due to the need for careful build-out. mint+1
Form & format: Will the ads be simply labelled “sponsored recommendation”, or more passive? Will they appear in chat responses, at the end, or as separate cards?
Scope: Will ads be in the free tier only, or also in paid tiers? Will they be opt-in, opt-out?
Data usage: How much user memory or preference data will feed ad targeting? How transparent will this be? Simo emphasised caution.
Geography/regulation: Will rollout vary by region, depending on ad laws and data-privacy frameworks?
Impact on trust & UX: Will users feel the value of ChatGPT remains unchanged? If ads degrade the experience, there may be backlash.
9. FAQs
Q1. Will ChatGPT start showing banner ads like websites?
Not likely in that exact form. Based on Simo’s comments, the likely approach is native, context-driven suggestions tied to commerce intent rather than generic banners.
Q2. Will I see ads every time I chat with ChatGPT?
Probably not. The emphasis is on commerce-intent queries (like shopping advice). For general queries (e.g., “Explain quantum computing”), ads may not appear.
Q3. Will ChatGPT use my personal memory for ad targeting?
OpenAI may explore using memory (past chats, preferences) for better contextual recommendation, but Simo flagged the central importance of respecting user data. You may expect stronger transparency or opt-out options.
Q4. Will paid (Plus) users have a different experience?
It’s plausible. Paid users may receive fewer or no ads, or a different monetisation model (premium features vs. commerce suggestions). But no official word yet.
Q5. Will this change how I use ChatGPT?
Possibly. If you’re shopping/researching products, you might get richer, commerce-based suggestions. You may also need to evaluate those suggestions critically (are they paid or neutral?). For normal conversational or informational queries, the experience should remain largely unaffected—for now.
10. Conclusion
The question of how ads will work on ChatGPT isn’t just about inserting commercial messages; it’s about integrating monetisation into a conversational AI without undermining trust, utility, or user experience. Fidji Simo’s comments signal a deliberate, cautious approach: ads could be coming—but only when the commerce experience is ready, respectful of data, and aligned with user intent.
For OpenAI, the challenge is significant: balance revenue growth with maintaining the integrity of ChatGPT as a trusted assistant. For users, the benefit is potential access to relevant product suggestions in-context—but also a need to stay aware of how recommendations may be monetised.
In short: advertising in ChatGPT may arrive, but expect it to look quite different from traditional web advertising. It may be subtle, intent-driven, and integrated into the flow of conversation. And whether you welcome it or view it warily, its rollout will be a pivotal step for the future of conversational AI monetisation.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on details first reported by official sources and publicly available news, including Google News. We have adapted and rewritten the content for clarity, SEO optimization, and reader experience. All trademarks and images belong to their respective owners.
