OpenAI has denied claims that advertisements are appearing within paid tiers of ChatGPT, stating that viral screenshots circulating online are “not ads or not real.”
The OpenAI ad controversy began after users on social media shared images showing what appeared to be promotional messages — such as an ad for Target during a conversation about Windows BitLocker — embedded below ChatGPT's responses, despite the users having active Plus subscriptions.
“I'm in ChatGPT (paid Plus subscription), asking about Windows BitLocker, and it's showing me ADS TO SHOP AT TARGET,” a viral social media post read.
I'm in ChatGPT (paid Plus subscription), asking about Windows BitLocker
and it's F-ing showing me ADS TO SHOP AT TARGET.
Yeah, screw this. Lose all your users. pic.twitter.com/2Z5AG8pnlJDecember 3, 2025AdvertisementIn response to the user backlash, OpenAI executives offered clarification. Daniel McAuley, the company's data scientist, explained that the content in question was not a traditional ad, but rather an integrated app from a pilot partner, like Target, meant to be discovered organically within chats.
However, users countered that such unsolicited promotions function as advertisements regardless of what the company claims they are.
Acknowledging the misstep, OpenAI's Chief Research Officer Mark Chen stated the company “fell short” in handling promotional content, adding it “needs to be handled with care.” He confirmed that such suggestions have been temporarily disabled while improvements to the model are made. Additionally, OpenAI is developing user controls to allow individuals to reduce the frequency of these prompts or disable them entirely.
AdvertisementNick Turley, head of ChatGPT, further said that the platform is not conducting any live tests for advertisements. He emphasised that, should OpenAI ever consider incorporating ads in the future, it would adopt a “thoughtful approach” designed to maintain user trust.
“If we do pursue ads, we'll take a thoughtful approach. People trust ChatGPT and anything we do will be designed to respect that,” Turley wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
I'm seeing lots of confusion about ads rumors in ChatGPT. There are no live tests for ads – any screenshots you've seen are either not real or not ads. If we do pursue ads, we'll take a thoughtful approach. People trust ChatGPT and anything we do will be designed to respect that.
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