OpenAI plans to test visual ads during ChatGPT image generation in the United States later in October. The company says the ads will be labeled, kept separate from generated images and will not affect ChatGPT’s answers.

A new ad spot inside image creation

OpenAI announced the test on October 5. It will begin with a group of US advertisers, but the company has not said which advertisers will take part or how many users will see the placements.

The test puts sponsored material into an image-making task, rather than only beside a text response. OpenAI says the ads will remain distinct from the images users create.

New ways to measure campaigns

OpenAI also announced integrations with three companies: Hightouch, Tealium and LiveRamp. TechCrunch reported that the integrations will let advertisers send conversion data from systems they already use to ChatGPT Ads.

  • Hightouch
  • Tealium
  • LiveRamp

That data could help advertisers assess whether campaigns lead to actions such as purchases. But the announcement describes a test, not evidence of how well the format works. OpenAI has not disclosed a price for the placement or results from the trial.

What happens next

The test is scheduled to start later in October and will initially be limited to the United States. OpenAI has not said when it might expand to other countries or become more widely available.

For users, the stated safeguards are that ads will be labeled, kept separate from generated images and will not shape ChatGPT’s answers. How the placements look in practice, and how users respond, remain unknown.