OpenAI has publicly played down the idea of ads inside ChatGPT, but behind the scenes, the company is still exploring how advertising could eventually fit into its AI chatbot.
A new report shows that OpenAI continues to evaluate internal ad concepts, even after signaling earlier that monetization work had slowed. The company had shifted focus toward improving answer accuracy and reliability, but advertising discussions never fully stopped.
According to the report, OpenAI has reviewed ideas that would allow sponsored material to receive priority placement inside ChatGPT. These concepts remain theoretical and are not tied to any confirmed product launch.
The stakes are high because ads placed near AI-generated advice could influence user behavior. What people read, trust, or buy could change depending on how paid content is presented. Still, the report makes clear that these ideas exist only as internal designs and early experiments.
OpenAI acknowledged the exploration in a statement to The Information. The company said it is examining what ads inside its products might look like, while stressing that user trust remains a core concern.
One concept places sponsored information directly within ChatGPT’s responses. In this setup, paid content appears in the same space as standard answers.
That approach could create confusion. Users may interpret the response as one unified recommendation, without realizing some information is sponsored. Another internal design keeps ads separate. Sponsored content would appear in a sidebar next to the main ChatGPT response.
This format mirrors traditional online advertising. It also makes sponsored material easier to identify at a glance. OpenAI’s ad strategy has shifted repeatedly. Earlier, ad-related references appeared in an Android beta, hinting at early testing.
Soon after, reports suggested OpenAI paused ad development. Leadership reportedly chose to focus on response quality as competition from Google’s Gemini intensified. The latest report suggests advertising was never abandoned. Instead, it appears to have moved in and out of priority.
If ChatGPT ads move beyond internal testing, transparency will be critical. Clear labels, consistent placement, and visible settings would signal a real shift. Placement will matter just as much. Ads limited to sidebars would feel different from sponsored content mixed into answers.
For now, OpenAI has not shared any launch timeline. Until official details emerge, ChatGPT advertising remains an internal experiment shaped by product goals and growing pressure from Google’s Gemini.
