OpenAI moves closer to an ad-supported future for ChatGPT

OpenAI may be preparing to take a significant step that could reshape how millions interact with ChatGPT. New findings buried inside a beta version of the platform’s Android app suggest that the company is actively working on advertising features — a change that would end the fully ad-free experience that users of the free tier have enjoyed since the chatbot’s launch.

The discovery was made by developer Tibor Blaho, who examined the 1.2025.329 beta release and shared his findings on X. Several lines of code reference what appears to be an evolving advertising framework, with mentions of terms like “ads feature,” “search ad,” and “bazaar content.” Though the build is not yet publicly available, the presence of these ad-related elements strongly implies that OpenAI is laying the technical groundwork for introducing commercial content into ChatGPT.

The timing of the discovery aligns with reporting from The Information earlier this month, which revealed that OpenAI has been exploring ways to integrate ads based on users’ memory profiles or past conversations. While these discussions have previously seemed more theoretical than concrete, the new code suggests that the company is moving from concept to implementation.

For years, CEO Sam Altman has maintained an ambivalent stance toward advertising. At a Harvard Business School event last year, he described the fusion of AI and ads as “uniquely unsettling” and framed it as a “last resort” for the company’s business model. Despite this skepticism, Altman clarified that he’s “not totally against them” and acknowledged that ads could eventually become part of the platform.

That position remained consistent when he revisited the topic months later in the inaugural episode of the OpenAI podcast. There, Altman reiterated that the organization is open to the idea of advertising, but is still wrestling with how to implement it responsibly — particularly in a system where users frequently share sensitive queries, personal information, and creative work. The main question, he noted, is how to incorporate ads without compromising user trust or distorting the product’s core purpose.

The lines of code uncovered this week do not reveal how or where ads might appear. They don’t clarify whether OpenAI is considering banner ads, sponsored results, conversational prompts, or an entirely new format tailored to AI-driven interactions. However, analysts speculate that the introduction of ads would most likely affect the free version of ChatGPT, which already operates with restrictions on message volume, memory features, and overall reasoning complexity. Introducing ads to the free tier could allow OpenAI to expand access while easing the financial pressure associated with running powerful models at massive scale.

The move would also follow a broader industry trend. As AI tools grow more advanced — and more expensive to operate — developers are searching for sustainable revenue streams beyond subscriptions. An ad-supported tier offers a hybrid model: keeping the base experience accessible at no monetary cost while encouraging some users to upgrade to a premium, ad-free environment.

Still, critics argue that advertising in AI chatbots could open a Pandora’s box of ethical dilemmas. Embedding commercial incentives into a system designed to answer questions and generate ideas risks blurring the line between helpful guidance and subtle persuasion. Concerns include whether ads might influence the model’s responses, how user data will be protected, and whether the presence of ads could erode the neutrality that users expect from an AI assistant.

For now, the discovery remains merely a sign of what could be coming. OpenAI has not announced any official plans or timelines. But the code found in the beta app indicates that the company is at least preparing the infrastructure it would need to support advertising — a notable shift for a platform that has until now relied primarily on paid subscriptions and enterprise partnerships.

Whether ads eventually appear in ChatGPT, and in what form, will likely shape user expectations across the AI landscape. As AI assistants become embedded in daily routines, any move toward monetization through advertising will be closely watched, not only for what it means for OpenAI’s business strategy but for how it sets standards across the expanding field of consumer AI.