It’s official: ChatGPT now has an ad platform for everyone.
OpenAI opened the ChatGPT Ads Manager as a beta for US businesses on Monday. Previously, you needed at least $50,000 in budget and a direct relationship with OpenAI to run ads in ChatGPT. That’s over. Any business can now register, create campaigns, and set budgets — directly through the self-serve portal.
What’s changed
Three key updates: First, the $50,000 minimum budget is gone. Second, advertisers can now bid on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis instead of impressions only. Third, there are expanded measurement tools to track campaign performance.
Ads appear at the bottom of ChatGPT responses when there’s a relevant product or service. They’re clearly labeled as ‘Sponsored.’ OpenAI emphasizes that conversation content stays private and isn’t shared with advertisers.
The bigger picture
OpenAI wants to make $2.5 billion from advertising this year. By 2030, they’re targeting $100 billion. Those are ambitious numbers — but with 900 million weekly active users, ChatGPT has the reach for it.
Major agency groups are already on board: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis, and WPP. Technology partners include Adobe, Criteo, and StackAdapt.
My take
Anthropic just reaffirmed that Claude will remain ad-free. OpenAI is going in the exact opposite direction — and aggressively so. For users paying for Pro or Plus, nothing changes for now. But for the free version, ChatGPT is increasingly becoming an ad platform.
That’s not a judgment — it’s a strategic choice that shows how differently the two companies plan to fund their future.
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