Sources indicate that OpenAI is poised to commence ad testing within ChatGPT during the week commencing February 9, 2026. This move signifies the formal entrance of conversational AI products into the advertising-driven monetization era. The advertisements will be displayed in a 'clearly labeled' section positioned beneath the conversation window, ensuring they are distinct from the chat content itself.

Initially, the trial will focus on a segment of adult free users in the United States, as well as subscribers to ChatGPT Go (priced at $8 per month). However, premium subscribers, such as those on the Plus and Pro plans, will remain unaffected by these ads. OpenAI has underscored its commitment to maintaining the objectivity of responses, stating that user conversation data will not be shared with advertisers. Additionally, the company has pledged to exclude users under the age of 18 from seeing any ads.

The primary objective of this ad testing initiative is to mitigate the high computational costs and financial losses currently incurred, as OpenAI seeks to establish sustainable profit models for its AI offerings.