OpenAI may be taking its first major step toward in-app advertising in ChatGPT, according to newly surfaced reports and code discoveries from the latest Android beta build. Industry analysts say the development could mark the beginning of a new monetisation strategy, complementing OpenAI’s existing free and subscription-tier offerings.
A detailed analysis by BleepingComputer found explicit ad-related code strings in ChatGPT for Android version 1.2025.329, including references such as “search ad,” “search ads carousel,” and “bazaar content.” The findings strongly suggest that OpenAI is testing a built-in advertising system designed to surface sponsored or promoted content inside ChatGPT, particularly within search-driven responses.
Multiple reports confirm that testing appears limited to search-related queries, not general chatbot conversations, indicating a cautious early phase. Industry watchers also point to OpenAI’s recent engineering job postings for advertising infrastructure, signalling a more structured and long-term ad strategy in the works.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously acknowledged that advertising is “something we may try at some point,” but emphasised that maintaining user trust is critical. He cautioned that biased recommendations — like promoting a lower-quality hotel because an advertiser paid for placement — could undermine ChatGPT’s credibility.
Potential AI-Powered Ads, Privacy Concerns & Personalisation Risks
If ChatGPT eventually introduces ads, experts speculate they may appear as contextual suggestions, similar to e-commerce recommendations, rather than traditional banner ads. This raises questions about how ChatGPT’s memory feature could intersect with ad personalisation — a topic already drawing attention from privacy advocates.
Analysts warn that blending commercial inputs with AI-generated advice could significantly impact how users — especially educators, journalists, developers, and researchers — interpret ChatGPT responses. Such integration could also heighten scrutiny around data transparency, user profiling, and algorithmic neutrality.
No Ads Yet, but Signs Point to Rollout in 2026
Despite a growing trail of evidence, no users have reported seeing ads within ChatGPT so far, and OpenAI has made no public announcement. Industry sources suggest a gradual rollout may begin as early as 2026, depending on testing progress and regulatory considerations.
With ChatGPT’s global user base expanding rapidly and compute costs rising, in-app ads may become a third revenue pillar for OpenAI — alongside subscriptions and enterprise licensing — as the company works to scale its AI models sustainably.
