OpenAI is actively developing ad formats for ChatGPT, including sidebar placements and sponsored query results triggered by a specialized “intent detection” model that runs separately from its core AI. The initiative marks a significant strategic pivot for CEO Sam Altman, who previously labeled advertising a “last resort,” as the company seeks to monetize its 900 million weekly active users, only 5% of whom currently pay for subscriptions. Internal projections estimate that “free user monetization” could generate $2 per user annually by 2026, eventually rising to $15 as the platform aims for 2.6 billion users by 2030.
