- ChatGPT Go rolls out plans with ads starting $8/mo, as it develops tech to make intelligence more accessible.
- OpenAI maintains the conversations will not be shared with any advertisers and neither it would affect the results.
- ChatGPT Go is currently sitting on top of 800 million users with more 5% paying subscribers, meaning advertising is a viable revenue stream.
ChatGPT Go is now rolling out globally. OpenAI started testing out the low-cost ChatGPT Go model in India in August at ₹399/month and has since expanded to more than 170 countries. Cut to now, the ChatGPT Go has gone live across the globe, starting with the US at $8/mo, followed by ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo, and ChatGPT Pro at $200/mo.
ChatGPT Go goes live in the US and elsewhere, but what does it mean?
ChatGPT has mainly operated free of cost to users with certain limitations, such as on image generation and chats. There were no ads on the platform up until this point; however, things are changing for users as OpenAI will now showcase ads on ChatGPT Go, a lite version of paid subscriptions that falls below ‘Plus.’
$8 per month is the cost of using ChatGPT Go, which rolls out ads in your conversations and is a major distinction between the free version and a paid subscription. Note that ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscription plans remain ad-free, which makes a point.
Circling back to ChatGPT Go, the version will showcase ads on usage except for chats that are termed sensitive, such as medical, health, and political, among others, that are ineligible for ads. Apart from the aforementioned categories, depending on your conversations, you’ll be able to see ads that will be clearly marked as one. For instance, users searching for places to visit in Milan, Italy, would see advertisements from travel companies, flights, hotel bookings, etc.
Unfolding the ad-journey
OpenAI was launched as a non-profit organization a few years ago; however, citing popular products such as ChatGPT, it has switched to more commercial operations. In 2025, OpenAI reported an $8 bn operating loss in the first six months, and considering there are only 5% of paying users of the total 800 million, it is a huge number to comprehend.
Sam Altman was recorded saying that ‘ads’ will be its last resort. It is perhaps crucial for any company to look for more revenue sources to remain viable in the market, and advertising has been a lucrative revenue stream. For now, we know that OpenAI has made clear that the advertisements won’t affect the results and outcomes in the conversations. Moreover, no data will be shared with the advertisers. Finally, ads will be clearly labeled.
OpenAI shared screenshots of how the advertisements will be laid out during the conversations, such as the one saying “Ember Co. Hot Sauce.” The AI juggernaut aims to become a focal point where millions of people and businesses find it valuable enough to pay for its products and to make intelligence more accessible.
