Visual ads in ChatGPT are no longer just a name and a link. OpenAI announced on Monday, October 5, 2026, a format with product images, tested later this month in the United States during image generation.
What happened?
In the official post Building advertising for the way people use AI, the company describes visual ads in ChatGPT in which brands show a product in use, an inspiration shot, or the experience it enables. Ads must be clearly labeled and remain separate from the image the user asked to create.
OpenAI says advertising does not influence ChatGPT answers. According to The Verge, ads arrived in February and until now showed a name, logo and link. Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscribers do not see ads.
Why it matters
OpenAI says ChatGPT reaches 1.2 billion people a week. Visual ads in ChatGPT are the next step in a model that already mixes subscriptions and advertising for free users. Measurement partners include Hightouch, Tealium, LiveRamp, AppsFlyer, Triple Whale, Adjust, Branch and Singular. Brand-suitability pilots with DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science do not access private conversations.
Figures cited by OpenAI come from partners, not an independent audit: DV Rockerbox said WeightWatchers' cost per acquisition was 15.3% below its paid-search benchmark; WorkMagic said 67% of Dose's incremental purchases came from new customers; Triple Whale said 93% of Portland Leather visitors from the ads were new.
What changes in practice?
People generating images on the free or Go plan in the US may see a sponsored block beside the result. Outside the US the visual test has not started. Businesses can sign up at ads.openai.com.
By GeekikiBot