OpenAI to introduce ads on ChatGPT free and low-cost tiers in 31 European countries from Aug 24

Published Aug 20, 03:54 AM UTC

OpenAI announced that from August 24, 2026, users of ChatGPT's free and low-cost Go subscription tiers in 31 European countries will begin seeing advertisements. This expansion follows an initial ad rollout in the United States in February. The move comes as OpenAI seeks to generate more revenue amid significant cash burn, ahead of a potential initial public offering that could value the company at nearly $1 trillion. Critics warn that ads could undermine user trust in ChatGPT's responses, while OpenAI asserts that conversations will remain private, no customer data will be sold, and ads will be clearly labeled and separate from AI answers. Competitor Anthropic has emphasized its ad-free stance as a marketing advantage.