On January 16, 2026, OpenAI announced its entry into advertising within ChatGPT, a significant change since its 2022 launch. The introduction of “ChatGPT Go,” a new mid-tier subscription at $8 per month, aims to cater to users seeking more access without compromising privacy or trust. This tier offers up to 10x messages, file uploads, and image generations using GPT-5.2, making it an attractive option between the free tier and the $20 Plus plan.
The ads, labeled as “Sponsored Recommendations,” will appear at the bottom of responses, ensuring they are contextually relevant and do not influence the answers provided. Privacy safeguards are robust, with commitments to keep conversations confidential. Users can opt-out of personalized ads and dismiss them.
OpenAI views this advertising strategy as a means to financially support AI accessibility amid competition. While reactions are mixed, the rollout is cautious, focusing on user feedback before expanding globally. For premium subscribers, the experience remains entirely ad-free.
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