It looks like the era of a completely ad-free ChatGPT experience might be drawing to a close, creating quite a stir among the tech community and loyal users alike. Recent findings suggest that OpenAI is actively preparing to introduce advertising into its ecosystem, a move that contrasts sharply with the company’s previous stance on keeping the chatbot strictly a productivity tool.
This revelation didn’t come from an official press release, but rather from a deep dive into the software itself. A software engineer and researcher named Tibor Blaho discovered specific code hidden within the experimental build of the ChatGPT Android app, specifically version 1.2025.329. Blaho flagged roughly a dozen lines of code labeled “feature ads,” containing strings that reference commercial elements such as “search ad,“ “search ads carousel,” and “bazaar content.” While these features aren’t live for the general public yet, their presence in the beta code is a strong indicator that the infrastructure for advertising is being built.
The motivation behind this pivot seems to be financial sustainability. Despite being valued at roughly half a trillion dollars, OpenAI faces astronomical operational costs. Reports indicate the company needs to find an extra $207 billion to power its growth plans, and subscriptions alone may not be enough to cover the ballooning costs of AI capital expenditures. Internal documents cited by reports suggest OpenAI is targeting $1 billion in new revenue specifically from free user monetization by 2026. With the user base exploding to roughly 800 million weekly users—up from 100 million in November 2023—the free tier represents a massive, untapped audience for advertisers.
Regarding how these ads will actually look, the code suggests a model similar to what we see in e-commerce or Google Search rather than intrusive pop-up banners. The terms “search ads carousel” and “contextual suggestions” imply that if you ask ChatGPT for a dinner recipe or a gift idea, it might display sponsored products relevant to that conversation. Even more specific is the potential use of the “memory” feature; The Information reported that OpenAI has considered showing individually tailored ads based on the chatbot’s memory of past user interactions. This means the AI could leverage the intimate details it knows about you to serve highly specific commercial content.
While the general assumption is that these ads will target the vast majority of users who are on the free plan—who make up roughly 95% of the user base—there is some ambiguity. Most “freemium” models remove ads for paying subscribers, yet there have been isolated reports of paid users seeing promotional content. For instance, a user on the $200/month ChatGPT Pro plan reported seeing a Peloton ad during a conversation about fitness, though it is unclear if this was a glitch or a test of a broader strategy.
The shift is causing friction because it contradicts previous messaging from leadership. CFO Sarah Friar previously stated there were “no active plans” for ads, and CEO Sam Altman once described ads as “unsettling.” However, Altman has more recently softened his stance, praising Instagram’s ad model and noting that ads could be a “last resort.” This flip-flopping has led to a sense of unease regarding the connection between OpenAI and its users. Since 80% of users are on the free tier, the introduction of commercial influence could alter the perception of ChatGPT from a neutral, helpful confidante to a tool for “sleazy salesmanship.” There are valid concerns that blending AI advice with commercial inputs could impact how educators, journalists, and researchers trust the output.
The community reaction has been swift and largely negative. On platforms like Reddit, users are voicing strong opposition. One user, stated they would cancel their subscription “the moment I see a mf ad,” drawing a parallel to why they quit Spotify. Another user expressed frustration that an ad popped up mid-conversation while they were focusing on a task, breaking their workflow. The sentiment across forums is that while ads might be understandable for free users, they are a dealbreaker for anyone paying a monthly fee.
The timeline for a full rollout isn’t confirmed, but with the code already in the beta app and revenue targets set for 2026, it appears to be a question of when, not if. As OpenAI navigates this transition, they face the challenge of monetizing their massive 800-million-strong user base without alienating the community that built them.
What are your thoughts on this potential change? Would you continue using ChatGPT if your search results included sponsored product recommendations, or would you switch to a competitor?
