ChatGPT with Ads: ‘Free-User Monetization’ Coming in 2026?

Is ChatGPT planning to roll out ads soon? The signs point to yes — and they’re inside OpenAI’s own forecasts.

According to internal projections, OpenAI expects to generate a staggering $1 billion from “free user monetization” as early as 2026. That number skyrockets to nearly $25 billion by 2029, contributing to a massive $125 billion total revenue estimate.

The visual. Juan González Villa shared a chart on X that breaks down OpenAI’s projected growth, highlighting new revenue streams like “free user monetization.” Translation: ads are likely on the horizon.

Why it matters. ChatGPT reportedly serves around 600 million users each month. Tapping into that user base could create a massive new channel for advertisers. But turning ChatGPT into an ad-supported platform would mark a major strategic pivot.

Yes, but. This would contrast with earlier comments from OpenAI leadership. Back in December, CFO Sarah Friar stated:

“Our current business is experiencing rapid growth and we see significant opportunities within our existing business model. While we’re open to exploring other revenue streams in the future, we have no active plans to pursue advertising.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also expressed skepticism in a podcast with Lex Fridman, saying, “I kind of hate ads,” and emphasized his belief that OpenAI could sustain its operations without relying on ad revenue:

I’m not a fan of ads—just from a design and experience standpoint. They were necessary to kickstart the internet economy, sure, but to me, they feel like a temporary solution. The world has evolved. I appreciate that people pay for ChatGPT and trust that the responses aren’t nudged by some advertiser’s agenda. I do think there’s probably an ad model that fits LLMs in a way that’s fair and unobtrusive, something that taps into commerce without crossing ethical lines. But it’s also not hard to imagine a darker version, where you ask ChatGPT a question and it responds with, ‘You might want to buy this,’ or, ‘Consider booking your trip here,’ and that’s unsettling.

I really value the simplicity of our current model—paying users, no ads. It’s clean. You’re not the product. You’re the customer. That makes a big difference. And when I use platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Google—which are great in their own ways—it’s clear that ads shape the experience, and I don’t love that. I think the influence of ads only gets messier as AI gets smarter.

…there’s got to be a way to innovate in advertising that doesn’t interrupt the user experience or compromise the truth. Because once AI starts bending answers to fit an ad narrative, we’re in trouble.

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