Short answer
ChatGPT ads appear below a ChatGPT response, labelled as sponsored and separate from the answer. OpenAI picks eligible ads from the conversation context, the ad itself, its landing page and the advertiser's context hints, then runs a relevance-weighted second-price auction. Only logged-in adults on the Free and Go plans see them.
Where the ad appears
The ad sits under the response, never inside it. OpenAI says ads run on separate systems and advertisers can't change what ChatGPT answers. One ad unit can contain one item or several, including products from more than one advertiser.
Each ad shows the advertiser name, a logo (favicon), a headline, a description, an image and a link to the landing page.
How an ad is chosen
- ChatGPT reads the intent of the current conversation
- Eligible ads are scored on expected relevance and outcomes, using the landing page, title, copy and context hints
- With ad personalisation on, some signals from the user's wider ChatGPT use can be added
- A relevance-weighted second-price auction picks the winner, so a better-matched ad can win with a lower bid
You set a maximum bid per ad group: a maximum CPM for Views or a maximum CPC for Clicks. For click campaigns OpenAI suggests starting at a maximum bid of $3–5.
Who sees ads
| Plan or user | Sees ads? |
|---|---|
| Free | Yes |
| Go | Yes |
| Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Edu | No |
| Accounts identified as under 18 | No |
| Temporary Chats | No |
Ads never appear next to conversations about personal health, mental health or politics.
What advertisers get back
- Impressions, clicks, spend, CTR, average CPC and CPM
- Conversions, once you set up the OpenAI Pixel or Conversions API
- Only aggregated data: advertisers never see conversations, names or emails
Questions
Do ads change ChatGPT's answers?
No. OpenAI states that ads run on separate systems and advertisers cannot alter responses. The ad is shown below the answer and labelled as sponsored.
Can I target specific questions?
Not exactly. Context hints describe when your offer is relevant; they are not exact-match keywords and don't guarantee delivery.
Is there a minimum spend?
There is a minimum daily budget per campaign, set by billing currency: for example $25, £15 or €15.
Facts checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. Platforms change quickly: if something here no longer matches what you see, tell us and we will update it.
