Summary
- Beta code hints that OpenAI is preparing to introduce ads into the chatbot’s interface.
- OpenAI might use personal details in chat history and other user interactions to tailor advertising.
- It’s possible that paying for ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or enterprise plans could let users avoid ads.
While there are plenty of reasons to upgrade to a pay for a ChatGPT subscription, the free version of ChatGPT, as we know it, might be coming to an end soon. According to code spotted in a recent beta build of the ChatGPT app, OpenAI appears to be preparing to add advertising into the chatbot’s interface.
The first hint came from Tibor Blaho on X, who spotted a beta version of ChatGPT’s Android app packed with references to ads. In the 1.2025.329 beta, the code apparently mentions things like “ads feature,” “search ad,” and “bazaar content.” This version isn’t public yet, but it hints that OpenAI might be preparing to bring ads to ChatGPT — signalling the end of a truly free AI experience from the company.
OpenAI’s stance on ads has shifted over time
Altman once called ads “unsettling,” but the door has stayed open
The debate over whether ChatGPT will add advertising has been around for a while, and OpenAI’s official line has shifted over time.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has talked before about the possibility of adding ads to ChatGPT, but he hasn’t taken a firm position. At a Harvard Business School event in May 2024, Altman described combining ads and AI as “uniquely unsettling to me” and called it a “last resort for us as a business model,” though he also said he’s “not totally against them.”
In June 2025, Altman made it clear on the first episode of the OpenAI podcast that the company isn’t opposed to adding ads, but they were still figuring out exactly how it would work.
By early November, it appeared that the company was actively developing an advertising infrastructure for ChatGPT based on memory or user chats, according to a report from The Information.
Your chats might shape the ads you see
Privacy concerns rise as ChatGPT becomes more personal
Adding ads to ChatGPT raises more than just questions about the user experience — it also shines a spotlight on privacy. ChatGPT has received many memory upgrades and remembers a lot about you. Unlike a typical search engine, ChatGPT often collects more personal information from users in the course of a conversation, and there are now signs that OpenAI’s ad model could tap into that chat history to serve personalized advertising.
Since ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022, users have been sending more and more personal information through chats. Users have been using AI for gut checks on real-life decisions (like moving to a new country or getting divorced), advice on raising their children and even medical diagnoses. That’s all on top of people using AI as a search engine.
OpenAI recently released data showing that a small percentage of ChatGPT users exhibit possible signs of severe mental health issues, including mania, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts. While the company says only around 0.07% of weekly active users show these signs, critics note that with 800 million users, this could affect hundreds of thousands of people.
These are topics that most users would assume are confidential, but they could now be used to make advertising suggestions. OpenAI lets users opt out of certain ChatGPT features, like chat history and training, giving some control over how their conversations are stored and used.
Can you dodge ads in ChatGPT?
There’s no public information yet on what ads in ChatGPT will actually look like, but it’s reasonable to assume that paying for a premium tier will let users avoid them entirely.
Most people use the free version of ChatGPT, which includes basic access to GPT-4o mini, web-augmented responses, and limited access to advanced features. ChatGPT Plus, which costs around $20 per month, offers higher usage limits and access to more advanced capabilities, while ChatGPT Pro and enterprise tiers provide even greater access for power users and larger teams.
Obviously, OpenAI is hoping that advertising will shift some of its free users into paid tiers.
It’s not clear yet what ads in ChatGPT will actually look like, but there are a few possibilities. They could appear as casual links to websites or products dropped into your conversation, full-screen interruptions that break up your prompts, or even short “must-watch” video ads between interactions. How intrusive they end up being — and whether premium tiers will let you skip them entirely — remains to be seen.
