OpenAI reportedly testing ChatGPT ads soon

OpenAI is quietly testing its advertising future as it heads into 2026, according to insiders who have heard of revived plans to pilot sponsored content in ChatGPT.

The new rumors stem from comments reportedly made by OpenAI's CEO of applications Fidji Simo, who recently published a breakdown of OpenAI's R&D goals in a post on Substack. Offline, sources say Simo mentioned an additional plan to begin testing ads on internal, employee-only chat models in the new year, reported Alex Heath, journalist and author of blog Sources. Simo has been laying a strong commercial foundation for ChatGPT's advertising future, including partnerships with Walmart, Instacart, Target, and Shopify.