South Africans who use ChatGPT’s free version may soon start seeing advertisements in the app, as OpenAI prepares to test ads as part of a major shift in how it funds the popular AI tool.
The company has confirmed that advertising will begin appearing for some users in the United States in the coming weeks. While the test does not yet include South Africa, the move signals what local users could eventually expect as ChatGPT continues to expand globally.
The ads will be shown to logged-in users on the free ChatGPT tier, as well as a new lower-cost paid plan priced at about $8 (roughly R150) per month. OpenAI said its higher-priced paid subscriptions will remain ad-free.
Why OpenAI is turning to advertising
Running ChatGPT has become increasingly expensive. OpenAI has said it does not expect to be profitable for several years and has committed to spending about $1.4 trillion on data centres and specialised computer chips needed to support AI systems, Mybroadband reports.
Until now, the company has relied mainly on subscriptions and business customers for revenue. Introducing ads marks a significant change, especially as OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has previously said he dislikes advertising, warning it could affect user trust.
However, with ChatGPT now used by more than 800 million people every week, advertising offers a way to keep the service affordable for users who cannot or do not want to pay for premium plans, including many in emerging markets like South Africa.
How ads will appear in ChatGPT
OpenAI said ads will initially appear as sponsored products or services shown at the bottom of relevant responses, clearly separated from the main chat.
The company believes this could help users make better purchasing decisions when using ChatGPT for research or comparisons.
Privacy and trust concerns
OpenAI has tried to address concerns about advertising influencing responses. The company said ads will not affect ChatGPT’s answers and that conversations will not be shared with advertisers.
It also said ads will not be shown on sensitive topics, such as mental health or politics, to users it identifies as being under 18.
“As we introduce ads, it’s crucial we preserve what makes ChatGPT valuable in the first place,” Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of applications, said.
“That means you need to trust that ChatGPT’s responses are driven by what’s objectively useful, never by advertising.” Simo added.
While no timeline has been given for a South African rollout, OpenAI said it will refine the system based on feedback, suggesting that ads could eventually reach users outside the US.
