OpenAI is preparing to bring visual ads to ChatGPT, expanding beyond the simpler advertisements introduced for free and Go users in February. The new format will use larger images, including multiple thumbnails or a single image spanning the available width, and is scheduled to begin testing later this month.

The initial trial will be limited to chats in which users generate images with ChatGPT. OpenAI said the advertisements will appear separately from the images created by the AI and will be clearly identified as ads. The company also said advertising will not affect ChatGPT's responses.

How visual ads will appear in ChatGPT

Visual ads represent a more prominent format than the earlier ads placed between chat messages. During the first testing phase, users generating images may see either a group of thumbnails or one larger, screen-width image. OpenAI has not said how long the test will run or when the format could expand to other types of conversations.

The announcement also does not specify which ChatGPT plans will receive visual ads. OpenAI previously introduced ads for free and Go users, so the new format is expected to follow that rollout pattern, although the company has not explicitly confirmed the eligibility details in this announcement.

OpenAI outlines safeguards for sensitive conversations

OpenAI said it will prevent visual ads from appearing in conversations involving emotionally vulnerable users, sensitive subjects or other contexts it considers unsuitable. The company plans to monitor those protections continuously using automated checks and human oversight.

Separating ads from generated images and marking them clearly are intended to distinguish promotional material from ChatGPT's output. OpenAI also stated that the presence of an ad will not influence the system's answer, a key concern as advertising becomes more deeply integrated into conversational software.

New tools for advertisers and measurement

Alongside the new format, OpenAI said it has worked to connect its advertising products with traditional advertising networks. That integration is designed to make it easier for advertisers to manage campaigns through existing industry systems.

The company has also introduced tools intended to help advertisers measure the effect of their campaigns. OpenAI's advertising post provides additional information about those measurement capabilities.

ChatGPT's reported user scale

OpenAI described ChatGPT as the world's largest AI-native consumer platform and said it has 1.2 billion weekly users. That characterization distinguishes ChatGPT from broader consumer services such as Google, which has greater overall reach but is not described by OpenAI as an AI-native platform.

The visual-ad test will give OpenAI an early indication of how users respond to commercial content inside image-generation workflows. Its handling of labeling, placement and sensitive conversations will likely be central to whether the format expands beyond the initial trial.