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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11OpenAI is expanding ads in ChatGPT to eligible Free and Go users in more markets, and says it plans to test a new visual ad format during image generation later in October 2026. That image-generation format is planned, not a completed rollout. Ads may appear only where the service is available and an eligible user sees a relevant match; Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu accounts do not have ads, according to OpenAI’s current Help Center.
Who may see ads in ChatGPT now?
OpenAI says ads may appear for Free and Go users in select regions. It began a U.S. test for logged-in adults on February 9, 2026, and says access is expanding gradually; not every Free or Go user will necessarily see ads. OpenAI announced on August 11 that ads had launched in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. That was a dated rollout milestone, not a complete or guaranteed current country list. Check OpenAI’s Ads in ChatGPT Help Center page for its current availability and eligibility details.
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OpenAI says Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu accounts do not have ads. Eligible users may also be offered a free no-ads choice, but OpenAI says it comes with lower message limits and no access to some tools. The offer and its terms can vary by region and over time, so compare the options shown in your own account rather than assuming the same limits apply to everyone.
Where do ads appear, and what is changing?
Existing sponsored placements
OpenAI describes existing ads as placements that may appear below a response when there is a relevant match. The company says one or more ad units may appear under a response during the test. Whether an ad appears depends on eligibility and available matching placements; its presence is not a guarantee that the answer is sponsored.
Planned visual ads during image generation
On October 5, 2026, OpenAI announced that it plans to test ads during image generation for Free and Go users, starting later in October with an initial group of U.S. advertisers. The company says these ads will be labeled and separate from the image being created. As of October 7, this was a planned test, not a live feature users could count on seeing.
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The distinction matters: the current placement is described as appearing below a response, while the announced image-generation format is a visual ad shown during the creation flow. OpenAI’s announcement does not establish how widely that test will expand or when it might become generally available.
Do ads influence ChatGPT’s answers?
OpenAI’s Help Center says, “Ads do not influence ChatGPT’s answers.” The company says its ad systems are separate from the chat model and cannot shape, rank, or alter the model’s response. It also says a paid placement is not an endorsement: “Ads are paid placements, and seeing an ad doesn’t mean OpenAI endorses or recommends the advertiser or its products or services.” These are OpenAI’s stated product design and policy, not an independent verification of how the systems operate.
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OpenAI says ad selection can take account of the current conversation’s context and intent, the ad’s landing page, title and copy, and advertiser-provided context hints and targeting selections. When personalization is enabled, selected signals from broader ChatGPT use may also be considered. If several ads are eligible, OpenAI says relevance and advertiser bids both help determine which appears first.
What information do advertisers receive?
OpenAI says advertisers receive aggregated, non-identifying performance information, such as views and clicks—not users’ conversations, chat history, memories, personal details, precise location, IP address, or sensitive information. The company says personalization signals remain within ChatGPT. If you intentionally message an advertiser through an ad, OpenAI says the advertiser sees only the messages you send directly to it.
These are OpenAI’s descriptions of its data practices. They should not be confused with independent confirmation that the policies are effective in every circumstance.
What controls can users change?
OpenAI says eligible users can turn off ad personalization, dismiss an ad, ask why it appeared, and clear data used for ads. Turning personalization off is not an ad opt-out: according to the Help Center, ads may still be selected using the current chat thread, but other chats, ad history, and topics are excluded from selection.
| Choice or setting | What it changes, according to OpenAI |
|---|---|
| Personalization on | Ad selection may use the current conversation and selected signals from broader ChatGPT use, including past chats and memory. |
| Personalization off | Ads may still use the current chat thread; other chats, ad history, and topics are not used for selection. |
| Free no-ads option, if offered | Removes ads but has lower message limits and no access to some tools; availability and exact terms vary by region and time. |
| Plus or Pro | OpenAI says these plans do not have ads. |
OpenAI also says Temporary Chats do not show ads, ads are not eligible near sensitive or regulated topics, and accounts identified as belonging to people under 18 do not receive ads. The controls and exclusions described here may vary with availability and product changes. See the Help Center explanation of ads and controls for the current account-level details.
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The consumer-facing image-generation test is one part of a wider advertising rollout. On May 5, 2026, OpenAI announced a beta self-serve Ads Manager, access through agency and technology partners, CPC buying alongside CPM, and conversion measurement tools. The agency partners it named were Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis, and WPP; technology partners included Adobe, Criteo, Kargo, Pacvue, and StackAdapt. Those details describe the May announcement and are not a guarantee that every buying option or partner arrangement remains unchanged.
In September 2026, OpenAI announced Sponsored Agents, which it said were being tested with selected U.S. advertisers, as well as integrations with HubSpot and Shopify. These advertiser products are distinct from ads consumers may see and from the planned image-generation format.
OpenAI’s October 5 announcement also named conversion-data integrations with Hightouch, Tealium, and LiveRamp; attribution partners including AppsFlyer, Triple Whale, Adjust, DV Rockerbox, Northbeam, Branch, Singular, Kochava, Airbridge, and Tenjin; and advanced measurement partners Fospha, Measured, and INCRMNTAL. It said it was exploring geo-based incrementality experiments with Haus, Measured, and WorkMagic. OpenAI described DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science as participating in brand-suitability evaluation pilots that do not access private user conversations. A pilot’s existence does not mean an independent evaluation has already validated the safeguards.
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OpenAI’s March 26 update said early pilot results showed no impact on consumer trust metrics, low ad dismissal rates, and improving relevance. Those are OpenAI’s self-reported observations, not an independent evaluation.
In its October 5 post, OpenAI reported several campaign examples from named measurement partners: DV Rockerbox reported a 15.3% lower attributed cost per acquisition for WeightWatchers than a blended paid-search benchmark; WorkMagic reported that 67% of incremental purchases for wellness brand Dose came from new customers and that the lift was statistically significant; and Triple Whale reported that 93% of Portland Leather visitors from ChatGPT Ads were new. OpenAI did not provide sample sizes, benchmark definitions, attribution windows, or full methods alongside these figures. They are partner-reported examples, not a forecast of results for other advertisers.
Quick Recap
What the expansion means for ChatGPT users
For users, the immediate change is that eligible Free and Go accounts in supported regions may encounter sponsored placements below responses. OpenAI says those placements are separate from answers and offers controls over personalization and ad data. The visual format during image generation is a separate, planned U.S. test for later in October 2026; it should not be mistaken for an already completed launch.
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