OpenAI's new way to make money: Chatbot ads launching in February, billed by views

OpenAI is accelerating its commercialization efforts. According to the latest news, OpenAI has provided its new chatbot advertising service to dozens of advertisers, with a planned official launch in February, adopting a pay-per-view model. This represents another important revenue stream for OpenAI beyond the subscription model.

Core Features of the Advertising Service

Service Model and Pricing Mechanism

OpenAI’s new advertising service adopts a pay-per-view model, meaning advertisers need to pay for each user view of the ad. While this pricing approach is not unfamiliar in the internet advertising industry, its application to AI chatbot scenarios is still relatively novel.

Based on current information, OpenAI has been testing the service with dozens of advertisers, indicating that the product is relatively mature and is about to enter full commercial deployment.

Why Launch in February

The timing is noteworthy. February is around the Chinese New Year in the US and also a key month in Q1. From a business perspective, OpenAI may want to initiate this new revenue stream early in the new fiscal year to add new growth momentum to its financial performance in 2026.

Background: OpenAI’s Commercialization Pressures and Opportunities

Complex Financial Situation

According to relevant reports, OpenAI faces significant financial pressures. It has been reported that growth in ChatGPT subscription revenue is limited, and the high costs of new projects like Sora have raised concerns about cash flow sustainability. Some analysts believe OpenAI may face cash flow difficulties before 2027.

On the other hand, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar recently revealed that the company’s annual recurring revenue (ARR) has exceeded $2 billion, demonstrating strong business performance. This seemingly contradictory phenomenon highlights a core issue: high revenue coexists with high costs, putting immense pressure on profit margins.

Strategic Significance of the Advertising Service

In this context, launching an advertising service has multiple implications:

• New Revenue Stream: Advertising is a classic monetization method for internet products and can supplement subscription income
• User Engagement Enhancement: Combining ads with content may increase user retention on ChatGPT
• Ecosystem Expansion: Providing new marketing channels for enterprise clients
• Cost Sharing: Advertising revenue can partially offset the high computational costs

Market Impact and Future Outlook

Impact on User Experience

Introducing ads into ChatGPT is a clear shift. Currently, ChatGPT Plus subscribers may enjoy an ad-free experience, while free users might face ad placements. This tiered strategy is common in internet products, but for AI assistant-centric products, the way ads are presented and their frequency will directly affect user experience.

Appeal to Advertisers

AI chatbots as advertising platforms have unique advantages. Unlike traditional search engine ads, ChatGPT can naturally incorporate advertising content within conversations, achieving higher relevance and conversion rates. This is attractive to both B2B and B2C companies.

Industry Implications

OpenAI’s move may trigger industry follow-up. Other AI companies like Anthropic, Google, and others might accelerate their ad monetization efforts. This indicates that the AI chatbot market is evolving from purely technological competition to a competition of business models.

Summary

OpenAI’s launch of chatbot advertising reflects its inevitable move to accelerate commercialization under high cost pressures. This is not only a new revenue source but also an important supplement to existing business models. The official launch in February will mark the evolution of AI assistants from pure tools to platform-based commercial ecosystems. For users, this may mean free experiences with ads; for advertisers, it opens a new window to reach AI users; and for the entire AI industry, it further validates the feasibility of commercialization pathways.