OpenAI Introduces Visual Ad Formats for ChatGPT

OpenAI has announced the introduction of visual, image-based advertisements within ChatGPT. The company, which reports 1.2 billion weekly users, aims to use advertising revenue to support broader access to its AI services. The new ad formats, currently being piloted, will appear beneath image generation progress indicators and will be clearly labeled to distinguish them from AI-generated content. OpenAI emphasized that these ads will not influence the model's responses. To ensure brand safety, the company is implementing placement guardrails to avoid sensitive or emotionally vulnerable conversations and has introduced a 'Negative Phrases' feature for advertisers to set exclusions. Additionally, OpenAI is collaborating with firms like DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science to test these safeguards in controlled environments. Testing for these ad formats is scheduled to begin later this month in the United States with a select group of advertisers.