ChatGPT Ads Now Hit on Your Very First Message

A user's very first message to ChatGPT can now trigger an advertisement before the AI assistant has even responded. OpenAI began testing ads this week for free-tier users in the US, with brands like Expedia and Qualcomm already appearing after initial prompts, according to Adthena data. This marks a dramatic shift from search engines, which wait for intent signals before serving ads.

The beta program carries steep entry requirements: a $60 cost per thousand impressions and a $200,000 minimum commitment, limiting early access to major brands. Paid subscribers on Plus, Pro, and other tiers remain ad-free during testing.

The rollout follows a rocky December incident when unsolicited ads appeared for paying Pro subscribers, including a Peloton fitness suggestion in an unrelated conversation. One frustrated user posted: "ChatGPT has started posting ads on Pro accounts. I hope this is just testing/a mistake, else it's an instant unsubscribe from me."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has promised advertisers cannot influence ChatGPT's responses and that conversations remain private. Yet the company faces mounting financial pressure, posting $13.5 billion in losses despite $4.3 billion in revenue last year. Meanwhile, competitor Anthropic has positioned its Claude assistant as deliberately ad-free, intensifying the debate over whether commercial placements compromise user trust in AI advisors.