KEY POINT
- OpenAI is requiring six-figure minimum commitments for early ChatGPT advertising placements
- Initial ads will appear beneath AI-generated answers for logged in adult users on free and Go tiers.
- The move positions ChatGPT advertising as a premium, limited access channel with restricted analytics.
OpenAI has begun asking select advertisers to commit a minimum of $200,000 in upfront spending to participate in early advertising tests inside ChatGPT, according to multiple industry sources familiar with the discussions, signaling a major shift in how the artificial intelligence company plans to monetize its fast growing platform in the United States.
The $200,000 minimum buy marks the clearest step yet in OpenAI’s long-anticipated move toward advertising revenue inside ChatGPT, a product used by hundreds of millions of people globally.
While the company has publicly stated that ads are not yet live, it has confirmed plans to begin limited testing in the coming weeks, starting with logged in adult users in the United States on lower tier plans.
OpenAI has framed ChatGPT advertising as a tightly controlled experiment rather than a broad rollout, emphasizing user trust, transparency and separation between paid placements and AI-generated responses.
Since ChatGPT’s public launch in late 2022, OpenAI has relied primarily on subscription revenue and enterprise licensing to offset the high costs of operating large-scale AI systems. As usage expanded rapidly, pressure grew to identify additional revenue streams that would not undermine user trust or the integrity of AI outputs.
Earlier this year, OpenAI confirmed it would eventually introduce advertising for users outside paid ad free plans, including the free tier and the newer ChatGPT Go subscription. At the time, the company said ads would be “clearly labeled,” contextually relevant and displayed separately from organic responses.
According to people briefed on the talks, the $200,000 minimum stems from early negotiations with brands seeking access to what OpenAI views as a premium, emerging advertising environment. The ads under consideration would appear at the bottom of ChatGPT responses when a sponsored product or service aligns with the user’s conversational intent.
“The minimum spend requirement signals that OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT advertising closer to high-end media buys than self serve digital ads,” said Jasmine Enberg, vice president and principal analyst at eMarketer. “This is about scarcity, brand safety and exclusivity, not volume.”
Industry reports indicate that ChatGPT advertising impressions could be priced as high as $60 per thousand views, placing them in a range comparable with premium television or marquee digital placements.
OpenAI has not publicly confirmed pricing.
Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s chief financial officer, has previously said the company must balance accessibility with sustainability, noting in public comments that infrastructure costs for advanced AI systems remain significant.
OpenAI has also stressed that it will not sell conversation data to advertisers and will exclude sensitive or regulated topics, including health, mental health and politics.
Andrew Frank, distinguished analyst at Gartner, said the model reflects both opportunity and risk. “Advertisers are intrigued by reaching users at the exact moment of intent, but the lack of mature measurement tools makes return on investment harder to justify at scale,” he said.
| Metric | Typical Digital Platforms | Minimum Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Spend | $200,000 | Often none or low minimums |
| Estimated CPM | Up to $60 | $5–$25 average |
| Audience Access | Logged-in adults, U.S. only | Global, broad targeting |
| Analytics Depth | Limited early metrics | Detailed engagement data |
| Placement | Below AI responses | Feeds, search, video |
“Brands are being asked to bet early on an unproven format,” said Brian Wieser, principal at Madison and Wall, a media consulting firm. “Some will do it for learning and prestige rather than immediate performance.”
A senior marketing executive at a global consumer brand, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to ongoing negotiations, said the commitment level narrows participation.
“The price point makes this more of an experimental line item than a scalable channel, at least for now,” the executive said.
OpenAI has said ads will not appear for users under eighteen and that individuals will be able to dismiss ads or learn why a specific promotion was shown to them.
OpenAI has indicated that the initial ChatGPT advertising tests are designed to gather feedback rather than maximize revenue. The company has not announced when, or if, broader advertiser access or self serve tools will be introduced.
Analysts expect any expansion to depend on user response, regulatory considerations and whether OpenAI can develop measurement systems that satisfy advertisers without compromising privacy commitments.
The company has also acknowledged that ChatGPT’s conversational interface differs fundamentally from search engines, potentially limiting click through behavior and traditional attribution models.
The $200,000 minimum commitment underscores OpenAI’s cautious but deliberate entry into advertising, positioning ChatGPT advertising as a premium, tightly managed product rather than a mass market ad platform.
As generative AI companies search for sustainable business models, OpenAI’s approach highlights the trade offs between monetization, user trust and the evolving economics of artificial intelligence at global scale.