OpenAI Rolls Out Premium-Priced ChatGPT Ads

OpenAI has taken the wraps off its ChatGPT advertising test program - and the price tag might make marketers do a double take. At roughly $60 per thousand impressions (CPM), these rates aren't just high for digital ads; they're knocking on the door of television's most expensive slots.

Breaking Away From Traditional Models

The ads currently appear beneath responses in ChatGPT's free version and lower-cost "Go" tier. In a departure from standard search engine practices, OpenAI chose pay-per-impression billing rather than pay-per-click. Industry watchers say this makes sense - when chatting with AI, users rarely follow external links compared to traditional searches.

"It's a recognition of how fundamentally different AI interactions are," explains digital advertising analyst Maria Chen. "People come to ChatGPT for answers, not to browse websites."

From Resistance to Revenue

The move marks a notable shift for OpenAI leadership. CEO Sam Altman previously described advertising as a "last resort" and even raised concerns about creating "dystopian" experiences. But with investors eyeing returns on the company's sky-high valuation, monetization efforts appear to be accelerating.

Tech journalist Raj Patel observes: "There's always tension between idealistic founders and practical business needs. Right now, business seems to be winning."

The pricing strategy also aligns OpenAI closer to competitor Perplexity's ad model rather than traditional search giants like Google.

Key Points:

• Premium pricing: $60 CPM puts ChatGPT ads in elite broadcast territory
• Impression focus: Skips clicks in favor of views, matching AI usage patterns
• Business realities: Despite earlier reservations, commercialization push intensifies