OpenAI will begin testing clearly labeled visual advertisements alongside ChatGPT’s image-generation results in the United States later in October 2026, while insisting the ads will not affect the chatbot’s answers.
The company announced the test on Monday, October 5, as part of a broader expansion of its advertising business. Initially, the ads will appear during the image-generation process and will feature products or services from a limited group of advertisers. OpenAI said the advertisements will remain separate from the images users ask ChatGPT to create, rather than being inserted into or altering the generated artwork.
The company described the format as a way for brands to show product inspiration, uses and experiences through imagery. OpenAI also said it is expanding tools that allow advertisers to measure clicks, conversions and broader campaign impact. The move builds on ChatGPT’s existing advertising tests, which began earlier this year for some users on free and lower-cost plans.
Paid subscribers on Plus, Pro and Enterprise plans are generally excluded from ads, according to reporting on the current program. OpenAI said the visual-ad test will begin with U.S. users before any possible expansion to other markets.