OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT’s advertising offering with visual ads that will appear alongside images generated at users’ request. The ads are scheduled to start appearing later in October 2026, initially only in the United States.
Initial test and ad labeling
The first ads will feature products and services from an initial test group of advertisers. OpenAI says they will be clearly labeled and will not influence the answers ChatGPT provides.
Advertising is not new to ChatGPT: OpenAI introduced ads earlier in 2026 to support its free and low-cost subscription tiers. It expanded them to India in August 2026.
If the visual ads roll out globally, they are intended to let advertisers reach ChatGPT’s audience of 1.2 billion weekly users.
Measuring clicks and ad effectiveness
Alongside the new format, OpenAI says it is expanding its ad measurement tools and partner network. Its click attribution partners include AppsFlyer, Triple Whale, Adjust and DV Rockerbox. It also lists Northbeam, Branch, Singular, Kochava, Airbridge and Tenjin in that category.
For advanced measurement across the marketing funnel, the company names Fospha, Measured and INCRMNTAL as partners. It has also partnered with Haus, Measured and WorkMagic to help advertisers explore geographically based ad experiments.
Planned brand suitability evaluations
OpenAI also says it is developing brand suitability evaluation pilots with DoubleVerify (DV) and Integral Ad Science (IAS). The pilots are intended to help advertisers better understand the context in which ads appear in ChatGPT.
