ChatGPT ads are here
- Jun 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 16
It’s official, ChatGPT ads are here (in the UK). In the US ChatGPT ads have been around since early February, and many people have been asking so we’re not too far behind digital markets from across the pond. The release is causing quite a stir with UK search demand seeing a big spike in January 26 with over 12,000 searches for ChatGPT ads and advertising terms.
But, what’s happening now Open AI is launching an ad network in the UK and what does it mean for your business? In this post we’ll share:
Does ChatGPT have ads in the chat interface?
OpenAI is introducing ads inside ChatGPT for Free and Go users. Ads won’t influence the answers ChatGPT gives you but they will be matched to your conversation by topic, history and past interactions with ads. So if you’re asking ChatGPT for recipe ideas you’ll more than likely see ads for meal kits or supermarket delivery.
So far we know:
Ads will be clearly labelled as "Sponsored"
Ads will be visually separated from AI answers
Ads are shown that match the topic of your query
Targeting restrictions apply, ads won’t appear near regulated or sensitive topics such as: health, mental health, or politics.
There is a lot of noise about how these ads will work, formats and how bidding will work/ And of course people are turning to ChatGPT for the answers!
We can see that people are asking OpenAI :
How can ChatGPT help me write effective ad copy?
ChatGPT templates for ad formats
How would real-time bidding work for ads inside an AI chat session?
We’re keeping our ear to the ground when it comes to digital advertising updates.
Reach out if you have any questions.
Who will see ChatGPT ads?
Not everyone who uses ChatGPT as their LLM (large language model) of choice will see these new ads. They’re only shown to logged-in adult users who have a free tier or ChatGPT go plan. Plus, Pro, Enterprise, Business and Education users won't see ads. As these users are paying for an ‘uninterrupted’ or ‘premium’ experience.
What ChatGPT ads mean for your business
ChatGPT ads open up an untapped opportunity, they’re a new way to show up where your customers are, because your potential customers are already asking ChatGPT for recommendations. So, your ads can appear in highly relevant conversations, getting your brand, service and products in front of the right people at the right time.
Currently there is a "zero click” journey happening in open AI, however with the introduction of ads users can now move effortlessly from AI and LLMS through to a website - which is new and exciting! AI search is quickly becoming an alternative to traditional search engines, so it makes sense that sponsored ads would become part of the conversation.
What ChatGPT ads mean to you as a user
ChatGPT ads mean that you’ll be served relevant ads to you when asking ChatGPT questions. This could help you by introducing you to products and services that you need when you need them most.
We know many people will be worried about their privacy when it comes to these ads but, as of today you as the user are very much in control. You can:
Hide ads you’re not interested in
See why an ad was shown to you
Delete your data at anytime
Go ad-free with ChatGPT Plus
Your data will also stay private. Advertisers will never see your chats, history, memories or personal data such as your name, location and IP address.
At this stage, it seems Open AI is trying to create a transparent and user-controlled advertising experience where ads are clearly separated from conversations.
What do our experts think?
What our experts say
Our PPC advertising experts have decades of experience. They’ve seen plenty of new advertising platforms in their time, some have flown… some have flopped. We asked them for their initial thoughts on ChatGPT ads. Here’s what Tom, our Digital Director, had to say:
“It's very early days, and we're still testing this. It's worth considering an experiment and comparing metrics, but not switching all your marketing budget over too hastily. Keep your ad campaigns that already deliver active!” - Tom Murrell, Digital Director, ADA Digital Marketing
If you’re not sure whether your ad campaigns are delivering or you’re ready to leverage AI to supercharge your business give our ad experts a call.
Written by:
Scarlett Hanlon, Digital Marketing Executive
Approved by:
Rosie Hurr, SEO and Content Manager & Dani Murrell, Creative Director
Published:
15th June 2026
