OpenAI launches visual ads that appear alongside image generation results

OpenAI is adding visual display ads to its ad product line-up so that ads appear alongside images users ask ChatGPT to generate, TechCrunch reported.

The new ads will begin to appear later this month in the U.S. only for now and will feature products and services from an initial test group of advertisers. OpenAI said the ads will be clearly labeled and won't influence the answers ChatGPT provides.

The move follows the launch of Meta's Muse, described as an agentic AI app that is free to everyone and a growing competitor for leading AI chatbots such as ChatGPT.

OpenAI introduced ads earlier this year to support its free and low-cost subscription tiers and expanded them to India in August. The plan is to appeal to online advertisers who want to use more visual imagery. Eventually, the ads will let them target ChatGPT's 1.2 billion weekly users once they roll out globally. TechCrunch noted that integrating such ads could prove disruptive to the user experience.

Alongside the display ads, OpenAI said it is expanding its measurement tools and partner ecosystem, which now includes click attribution solutions AppsFlyer, Triple Whale, Adjust, DV Rockerbox, Northbeam, Branch, Singular, Kochava, Airbridge and Tenjin, as well as full-funnel, advanced measurement partners Fospha, Measured and INCRMNTAL.

OpenAI has also partnered with Haus, Measured and WorkMagic to help advertisers explore geo-based experiments around ads. The company said it is working on developing brand suitability evaluation pilots with help from DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science, which will help advertisers better understand the ChatGPT ads environment.

TechCrunch described the combined moves as OpenAI working to make ChatGPT a viable ad-supported business for those on free and low-cost plans.