OpenAI confirmed ads are running inside ChatGPT for US free-tier users, projecting $2.5 billion in ad revenue for 2026. AU rollout expected within 12 months.
1 min read
What changed
OpenAI confirmed ads are now running inside ChatGPT for US free-tier users
Ads are clearly labelled and separate from AI-generated answers. Brands cannot buy placement inside the organic recommendation.
OpenAI is projecting $2.5 billion in ad revenue for 2026, with a $100 billion target by 2030
What it means
A new paid channel is forming. It won't hit Australia immediately, but the trajectory is clear. ChatGPT has 400m+ weekly active users. When this opens to AU advertisers, early movers will set benchmarks before CPCs inflate. This also signals that AI-generated answers and paid placements will coexist across every major AI platform within 12 months.
What to do
No action required today for AU campaigns.
Start monitoring your brand's visibility in ChatGPT answers now. Tools like Searchless.ai and Profound track AI citation share.
When the ad product reaches AU, you'll want baseline data on where you appear organically so you can measure incrementality.
Source: OpenAI official blog