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OpenAI is turning ChatGPT Ads from a tightly managed experiment into a broader self-serve business. Its beta Ads Manager now supports budgets, bids, pacing, creative uploads and reporting, while the company courts small and midsize businesses, adds agency and technology partners, and introduces CPC bidding alongside CPM. A report from The Information says OpenAI has cut ad prices and hired some talent from Meta, but The Information‘s report does not provide a complete rate card or hiring list.
ChatGPT advertising is moving beyond managed campaigns
OpenAI says it initially launched campaigns by working directly with a small group of advertisers. The next phase is a beta Ads Manager intended for companies ranging from startups and small and midsize businesses (SMBs) to global brands.
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In the self-serve model, an advertiser can register, add payment information, set a budget, choose bids and pacing, upload creative, launch or change campaigns, and review performance. OpenAI still controls ad delivery, while agencies and technology partners can help with planning, buying and creative operations.
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Partners are part of the expansion
OpenAI says agency partners include Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis and WPP. Technology partners include Adobe, Criteo, Kargo, Pacvue and StackAdapt. Their role is to support budgeting, bidding and creative workflows; OpenAI retains control over where and how ads are delivered in ChatGPT.
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Why SMBs are a central target
Opening a self-serve buying path lowers the operational barrier that comes with a managed sales process. That matters particularly to smaller advertisers, which may not have an agency or a large media-buying team. OpenAI says Ads Manager opened to SMBs in May 2026 and that SMBs now account for a material share of the business, although it has not published a percentage.
The company is presenting the opportunity at unusually large scale. The figures below are OpenAI’s own 2026 claims, not independently audited results.
| Measure | OpenAI’s reported figure | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Annualized advertising revenue | $1 billion | Reached in less than 200 days, according to OpenAI |
| Advertisers | Tens of thousands | OpenAI estimate for 2026 |
| Geographic availability | More than 40 countries | OpenAI says the platform is available across these markets |
| ChatGPT weekly active users | More than 1 billion | OpenAI’s stated audience figure |
| SMB contribution | Material share of the business | OpenAI description; no share percentage published |
What the reported price cuts mean
The Information uses the headline “OpenAI Accelerates Ad Sprint With Meta Hires, Slashed Prices.” That supports the broad claims that OpenAI is reducing rates and recruiting from Meta, but The Information does not disclose the full list of hires or the old and new prices. Advertisers should therefore treat “slashed prices” as a reported development, not as a published percentage discount or guaranteed rate for every market, format or auction.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →How buying ChatGPT Ads works
1. Set up the account
- Register for the beta Ads Manager and add payment information.
- Define a campaign budget and pacing rules.
- Upload the ad creative and configure the campaign controls.
2. Choose a bidding approach
OpenAI has added cost-per-click (CPC) bidding to its existing cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM) option. CPM is suited to buying exposure, while CPC ties the charge to a click. The best choice depends on whether the campaign is primarily intended to build awareness or drive visits; no published comparison establishes which method produces better returns.
3. Measure outcomes
Advertisers can use OpenAI’s Pixel and Conversions API measurement options in addition to the platform’s performance reporting. These tools are intended to connect ad exposure or clicks with activity on an advertiser’s own site, but no independent accuracy assessment or standard conversion benchmark is provided.
CRM and ecommerce integrations
HubSpot
HubSpot users can connect a ChatGPT Ads account, create ads, monitor performance and follow up with leads inside HubSpot. That creates a direct workflow from campaign management to lead handling for businesses already using the CRM.
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Shopify
US-based Shopify merchants can use a ChatGPT Ads app in the Shopify App Store. The app is designed to create and manage campaigns using products from a Shopify catalog. Eligibility is explicitly described for US merchants, so availability should not be assumed in other countries.
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What people see in ChatGPT
OpenAI’s help documentation says ads may appear for Free and Go users. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu accounts do not have ads. When shown, an ad appears below a response, is clearly labeled and is visually separated from the answer.
OpenAI states that ads do not influence ChatGPT’s answers. It also says advertisers do not receive chats, chat history, memories or personal details. Advertisers receive aggregated performance information, such as views or clicks, rather than a user’s private conversation data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare ChatGPT Ads with Meta campaigns
ChatGPT and Meta should not be compared on a headline cost figure alone. A practical evaluation should examine:
- Access model: whether the campaign is managed by a sales team, run through an agency or available through self-serve tools.
- Buying objective: CPM, CPC or another outcome-based method.
- Measurement: availability of pixels, conversion APIs, reporting windows and the events a business can attribute.
- Reach and geography: whether the desired countries and audience scale are actually available to the account.
- Business-system integration: how easily leads or product catalogs move into a CRM or ecommerce workflow.
- Privacy requirements: what user-level information is withheld and what aggregated data is provided.
Published information documents ChatGPT Ads capabilities but does not provide an independent return-on-ad-spend comparison with Meta or a complete Meta-versus-ChatGPT rate table. Claims that one platform is inherently cheaper or more effective would go beyond the established information.
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- Ads Manager is described as a beta product, so controls, access and pricing can change.
- OpenAI has not published a universal CPC or CPM rate in the published information.
- The reported price reductions do not establish a single discount percentage.
- Country availability, account approval and integration access may differ by market; the Shopify route is specifically identified for US merchants.
- The $1 billion run rate, advertiser count, country count and user total are company claims rather than audited financial or audience measurements.
The practical takeaway for advertisers
OpenAI is building a full advertising ecosystem around ChatGPT: self-serve campaign controls for SMBs, agency and technology partnerships, multiple bidding models, conversion measurement, and links to CRM and ecommerce systems. The reported lower rates and Meta recruiting show how aggressively it is pursuing scale, but the exact economics remain undisclosed. Businesses considering a test should verify current eligibility and pricing in their market, choose a clear conversion event, and judge the campaign on measured results rather than on OpenAI’s reach claims alone.
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