ChatGPT Will Be Paired With Ads? Here's The Project Leader's Answer

JAKARTA - The Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI emphasized that the subscription model will remain the main source of revenue, even though this platform is growing very rapidly. He assessed that advertising is not a priority because it has the potential to undermine user confidence and product value. Instead, OpenAI is exploring indirect monetization models, such as commission-based referral systems.

For many people, ChatGPT has become the main tool for various needs, ranging from finding ideas, making email drafts, to helping with everyday work. With the fastest growth in software history, OpenAI is now focusing on pursuing profitability as soon as possible. The question is, is it just a matter of time until the ad is actually present on the ChatGPT?

Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, in an interview with The Verge said that his party was still very careful in monetization matters. According to him, they believe full of current subscription models and have no immediate plans to integrate advertising. Even so, it does not rule out the possibility of using other models such as product referrals, where OpenAI can get a small commission from transactions made by users.

When OpenAI launched the ChatGPT paid package, it was originally just to set a huge spike in server demand. But now, that strategy is developing into a long-term business model. Turley assessed that the new customer's retention rate remains as stable as early users did. This indicates that users are not just using, but also building strong engagement with ChatGPT.

In fact, according to Turley, the user's reaction to the plan to remove one of the old models had shocked OpenAI itself.

Then what about advertising? Turley acknowledged the possibility of ad-based monetization in the future, but with strict conditions. Any advertising model should keep the core value of the product, which is to provide personal, neutral, and reliable answers. He emphasized that user confidence is everything. One pop-up advertising or sponsored results can easily damage it.

Therefore, a more realistic monetization path is through a reference model. ChatGPT can already provide product recommendations, and in the future OpenAI can take on the role of smart shopping assistant with a profit-sharing system. This method is considered more natural and does not interfere with the user experience than traditional advertising.

Interestingly, a report in May 2025 said Google was developing an ad injection service for AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. The technology giant from Mountain View has indeed become a major player in the digital advertising industry. The question is, will OpenAI one day use their services? The answer still has to wait.