February 9, 2026
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Testing Ads in ChatGPT
Free ChatGPT gets ads; users shout “BETRAYAL” and ask what’s next
TLDR: OpenAI is testing ads for U.S. adults on Free and Go, keeping paid plans ad‑free and promising privacy and untouched answers. Commenters erupted with betrayal memes and slippery‑slope fears, while others shrugged that free tiers need funding—setting up a classic internet brawl over convenience, cost, and trust.
OpenAI just announced a test of ads in ChatGPT for U.S. adults on the Free and Go plans—paid tiers like Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education stay ad‑free. The company insists ads won’t affect answers, promises strong privacy, and even lets Free users opt out in exchange for fewer daily messages. They’re also skipping ads for under‑18s and “sensitive” topics like health and politics, and say advertisers can’t see your chats—only overall performance numbers. That’s the official line.
But the comments? Pure fireworks. One user fired off “BETRAYAL”, while another asked the question everyone’s thinking: “For now, or forever?” Others saw dollar signs, joking that “perfectly personalized ads” mean the ad rates will be “wild.” And the cynics brought out the internet’s favorite word: “ensh*ttification.” Translation: folks fear a slow slide where “ad‑free” tiers get smaller, free gets worse, and the answer box starts feeling like a mall directory. Meanwhile, a not‑that‑shocked crowd shrugged: free stuff costs money—pay up or see sponsors.
Between the dramatic memes (“I am shocked—well, not that shocked”) and slippery‑slope alarms, the vibe is equal parts popcorn and panic. OpenAI says this test follows its ad principles. The audience? Split between “this is how it ends” and “this is how free stays free.”
Key Points
- •OpenAI is testing ads in ChatGPT in the U.S. for logged-in adult users on Free and Go tiers; Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education tiers remain ad-free.
- •Ads are clearly labeled, separated from answers, and do not influence ChatGPT’s responses; answers are optimized for user helpfulness.
- •Ad selection matches advertiser submissions to conversation topics, users’ past chats, and past ad interactions; advertisers receive only aggregate performance data.
- •Users can control ads by dismissing them, giving feedback, viewing why an ad was shown, deleting ad data, and managing personalization; Free users can opt out of ads for fewer daily messages.
- •Ads won’t be shown to users identified as under 18 and are ineligible near sensitive topics like health, mental health, or politics; OpenAI plans to expand responsibly with privacy and safety guardrails.