ChatGPT is now one of the places customers go first when they’re researching a purchase, comparing options or looking for a local business. Since early 2026, it’s also become an advertising platform. ChatGPT ads let businesses show up right below relevant conversations, at the moment someone is asking for help.
How ChatGPT ads work
OpenAI began showing ads in ChatGPT in the U.S. in February 2026 and has since expanded to more countries. Here’s what to know:
- Who sees them: logged-in adults on ChatGPT’s Free and Go plans. Paid Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise users don’t see ads, and ads aren’t shown to users under 18.
- Where they appear: below a relevant answer, clearly labeled as sponsored. An ad shows your business name and icon, a short title, a description, an image and a link to your website.
- How they’re matched: by the topic of the conversation. Instead of exact-match keywords, you can add “context hints” that describe the topics your ad is relevant to.
- Privacy: OpenAI says ads don’t influence ChatGPT’s answers and advertisers never see users’ conversations, only aggregated results.
Who can run ChatGPT ads?
When ads launched, they were limited to large brands with big minimum budgets. In May 2026, OpenAI opened a self-serve Ads Manager to U.S. businesses, and it has been rolling out more widely since, so small and mid-size businesses can now advertise too.
Not every business is eligible, though. Under OpenAI’s ad policies:
- Generally allowed: local services, home and lifestyle products, travel and experiences, education and digital products.
- Reviewed case by case: health, financial and legal advertisers, with extra review before ads can run.
- Not allowed: political and social issue ads, gambling, crypto, debt relief, alcohol, tobacco and vaping, cannabis, adult content and unsupported health or wellness claims.
What you need to get started
- An advertiser account set up with a work email, plus your business details for OpenAI’s verification.
- A billing profile and payment method.
- Your logo and a square image for your ads.
- Ad copy: a short, clear title and description that fit ChatGPT’s character limits.
- A relevant landing page, not just your homepage, with tracking (UTM) parameters, and a website that doesn’t block OpenAI’s crawlers.
- Conversion tracking using OpenAI’s pixel or Conversions API, so you can measure leads, sign-ups and sales.
- A budget and bidding approach. You can pay by impressions (CPM) or by clicks (CPC).
Are ChatGPT ads right for your business?
ChatGPT ads are still new, which means less competition and a real chance to reach customers while they’re actively asking for recommendations. They work best alongside a strong website and an AI search strategy, so the people who click find clear answers and an easy way to contact you. They also take careful setup and monitoring, especially in industries with extra review.
How Osky Blue helps
We’re already running ChatGPT ads for our clients, alongside Google Ads, Local Services Ads and Meta ads. We handle the setup, verification, creative, landing pages and conversion tracking, then manage the campaigns and report on cost per lead and results, so you know exactly what ChatGPT ads are doing for your business.
Curious whether ChatGPT ads are a fit for you? Learn about our paid media services or request a quote.
Sources: OpenAI Help Center, OpenAI ad policies, OpenAI. Details are current as of October 2026 and change often.