OpenAI appears to be preparing to introduce advertisements to ChatGPT’s free tier, according to code discovered in the platform’s Android app beta.
The Evidence
Tibor Blaho, an engineer at AIPRM, found new references in the ChatGPT Android app version 1.2025.329 beta that point to an upcoming ads feature. The code includes mentions of “bazaar content,” “search ad,” and “search ads carousel.”
Blaho has successfully identified similar leaks in the past, lending credibility to the discovery.
Why OpenAI Is Considering Ads
The move shouldn’t come as a surprise given the company’s financial situation. According to an HSBC report cited by Forbes, OpenAI won’t reach profitability until 2030 and needs to secure an additional $207 billion to fund its growth plans in the meantime.
Currently, OpenAI generates revenue through ChatGPT Pro subscriptions and API access, but those income streams haven’t been enough to offset operating costs for the world’s most expensive AI service.
The platform has a massive potential advertising audience. Roughly 800 million people use ChatGPT every week, making it one of the largest consumer technology platforms globally.
Altman’s Previous Comments
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the possibility of advertising during a podcast over the summer. “I’m not totally against it,” he said. “I can point to areas where I like ads. I think ads on Instagram, kinda cool. I bought a bunch of stuff from them.”
However, he acknowledged the challenges: “But I am, like, I think it’d be very hard to…I mean, take a lot of care to get right.”
At the time, Altman noted that while the company hasn’t “done any advertising product yet,” that doesn’t mean it’s off the table.
What This Could Look Like
Based on the code references to “search ad” and “search ads carousel,” the most likely implementation would resemble Google’s search ads model—sponsored results that appear when users query ChatGPT for information.
This approach would be less intrusive than banner ads or pop-ups, integrating sponsored content directly into search results in a way users are already familiar with from traditional search engines.
The Broader Pattern
OpenAI isn’t the only AI company exploring advertising as a revenue stream. The entire generative AI sector is grappling with the same fundamental problem: extremely high operating costs and uncertain paths to profitability.
While subscription models work for power users, they limit market penetration. Advertising allows companies to keep their products accessible to casual users while still generating revenue from that massive audience.
For now, OpenAI hasn’t officially confirmed plans to introduce ads. But the code leak, combined with the company’s financial pressures and Altman’s previous statements, suggests it’s a matter of when, not if.
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