OpenAI launches visual ads that appear alongside image generation results

OpenAI will introduce visual display advertisements that appear next to images generated by ChatGPT, with the feature rolling out later this month in the United States for an initial set of advertisers. The company said the placements will be clearly labeled and that ad creative will not alter the chatbot’s responses. The rollout follows OpenAI’s earlier introduction of ads for free and lower-cost subscription tiers and a recent expansion of ads into India.

The visual ad format is part of a wider effort to attract advertisers who want to use imagery to tell stories and reach ChatGPT users. OpenAI has highlighted the platform’s scale — citing 1.2 billion weekly users — as a key long-term opportunity once ads are available globally. The company also framed the move as complementary to its existing products rather than integrated into model outputs.

To support advertisers and measurement needs, OpenAI said it is expanding its partner ecosystem to include click attribution and analytics providers such as AppsFlyer, Triple Whale, Adjust, DV Rockerbox, Northbeam, Branch, Singular, Kochava, Airbridge, and Tenjin. It also named full-funnel measurement partners Fospha, Measured, and INCRMNTAL, and said it had partnerships with Haus, Measured, and WorkMagic for geo-based ad experiments.

OpenAI is additionally developing brand suitability evaluation pilots with DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science to give advertisers more visibility into the ChatGPT ad environment. The company positions these steps as part of building a viable ad-supported offering for nonpaying users, though observers note that introducing ads into the image-generation experience could change user behavior and potentially encourage some users to upgrade to paid plans to avoid ads.