OpenAI will test visual ads that appear in ChatGPT while users generate images

OpenAI is expanding advertising in ChatGPT with a visual ad format. The company says it will start testing the format later this month in the United States with an initial group of advertisers. The first placements will appear while users generate images. According to OpenAI, the ads could show product inspiration, how a product is used, or experiences tied to a service. "Ads will be clearly labeled, and remain separate from the image being created," the company said. It also repeated that ads do not influence ChatGPT's answers. OpenAI says ChatGPT now reaches 1.2 billion people every week. BleepingComputer notes that advertising gives OpenAI a way to earn revenue from the many users who do not pay for a subscription. OpenAI is also giving advertisers more ways to measure whether ChatGPT ads lead to purchases or other conversions. It is integrating with Hightouch, Tealium and LiveRamp for conversion data, and its attribution partners now include AppsFlyer, Adjust, Branch, Triple Whale and Kochava. It is also working with DoubleVerify on ad verification. For users, the change means commercial content will appear inside one of ChatGPT's most popular creative features. For advertisers, it adds measurement tools similar to those on established ad platforms.