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OpenAI seems to be preparing a major shift in how ChatGPT is monetized, as new code hints that advertising is coming to the chatbot for free users. The discovery points to an upcoming ad-supported model that could reshape how millions interact with the service.
Engineer Tibor Blaho uncovered early references to ad features inside the ChatGPT Android app. The code mentions search ads, a search ad carousel, and an ad API. These clues suggest that ads will not stay limited to Android. They will likely appear across all ChatGPT platforms, including iOS, Mac, and the web.
ChatGPT Android app 1.2025.329 beta includes new references to an “ads feature” with “bazaar content”, “search ad” and “search ads carousel” pic.twitter.com/BdHOJIQHmA
— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) November 29, 2025
The repeated use of “search” in the code hints that OpenAI may focus ads on web search tasks and shopping queries. This strategy would help the company monetize the free tier without disrupting general chatbot use.
ChatGPT access currently starts at $20 per month for the Plus plan, while the Pro plan costs $200 per month and offers higher limits. OpenAI also provides business and education plans, along with a free tier. In several countries, a cheaper “Go” plan is available, and this option could reach the United States once ads launch.
Rumors about price hikes have circulated for months. A new ad-supported tier would give OpenAI a chance to restructure its subscriptions and raise prices without cutting off access for free users.
Search Engine Land noted that OpenAI’s public tone on advertising has shifted in the past year. CEO Sam Altman called ads a “last resort” in late 2024. But internal forecasts leaked in early 2025 projected $1 billion in “free user monetization” revenue in 2026. Altman later said he admired Instagram’s ad model and believed OpenAI could design “some cool product ad” that users would find helpful.
If these code references are accurate, OpenAI is now moving toward that vision. The next few updates may reveal how the company plans to blend AI assistance with advertising while keeping the experience appealing for millions of users worldwide.
