Web desk: OpenAI appears to be testing advertisements inside ChatGPT, according to newly discovered code in its Android app. This would mark the first time the chatbot, which has been ad-free since its launch in 2022, may show ads.
Computer engineer Tibor Blaho spotted the changes in a beta version of the ChatGPT Android app (version 1.2025.329).
The code mentions an “ads feature,” “bazaar content,” “search ad,” and “search ads carousel,” suggesting OpenAI is building a system to display ads within the chatbot interface. However, OpenAI has not officially announced any plans for ads.
Is OpenAI Planning to Introduce Ads in ChatGPT?
Since November 2022, ChatGPT has remained completely free of ads. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously called ads a “last resort” and said the company preferred other revenue models.
But in June, he softened his position, saying on a podcast: “I’m not totally against it… I think ads on Instagram are kind of cool.” This shows the company is now more open to advertising as a source of revenue.
Experts note that ChatGPT gathers large amounts of conversational data, which could allow future ads to be highly personalised and valuable to advertisers.
Despite expected sales of $13 billion from premium ChatGPT tiers in 2025, OpenAI is still not profitable.
Its spending is estimated at $22 billion, mainly on AI chips, data centres, and other infrastructure for training and hosting large models.
An HSBC report suggests OpenAI may continue operating at a loss until at least 2030. The company may also need an additional $207 billion for
AI data centre expansion, even after cloud deals with Microsoft and Amazon, is worth nearly $300 billion.
With rising costs and long-term infrastructure needs, advertising could become an important revenue stream.
Analysts expect that as subscriptions grow, ads may emerge as the next major source of income to offset spending.
OpenAI has not officially announced any plans for ads, so user reactions remain unknown.
Experts warn that introducing ads to a platform built on trust and personal interaction may raise concerns about data privacy, transparency, and user experience.
