Media & Culture

ChatGPT’s cheapest options now show you ads

Your AI chatbot conversations are about to get sponsored links unless you pay up.

Deep Dive

OpenAI is testing ads on ChatGPT for users of the free and $8/month Go plans. These labeled 'sponsored' links appear below answers but do not influence the AI's responses. To avoid ads entirely, users must subscribe to the $20/month Plus plan or higher. Free-tier users can opt out of ads in exchange for fewer daily messages. The move follows a public jab from rival Anthropic about ads in AI chats.

Why It Matters

This shift introduces a common web revenue model into mainstream AI, potentially setting a precedent for how free AI services are funded.