ChatGPT ads are spreading: a new image-generation ad format and 26 more countries
OpenAI is testing a visual ad format that appears while ChatGPT generates images, starting with Free and Go users in the US. Separately, ChatGPT Ads now run in 89 countries, and more than 100,000 advertisers have used them.
By ScoviAI Team
Key points
- New visual ad format announced October 5, 2026, tested first during image generation for Free and Go users
- OpenAI says ads are clearly labeled and kept separate from the image being created
- On October 21, ChatGPT Ads expanded to 26 more countries, for 89 in total
- More than 100,000 advertisers have used the platform, according to OpenAI
Advertising inside ChatGPT is no longer an experiment on the side. In October, OpenAI announced a new kind of ad and took its ad platform to more than two dozen new countries.
A new ad format, inside image generation
On October 5, OpenAI introduced a new visual ad format. It will be tested first while ChatGPT generates an image, for users on the Free and Go plans in the US.
OpenAI makes two promises about these ads:
- they will be clearly labeled,
- they will stay separate from the image you're creating.
OpenAI's help center describes a related format that shows several images from one advertiser while you wait for your picture. It's a natural slot: image generation takes a few seconds, and the screen is otherwise idle.
The same announcement expanded tools for advertisers, including measurement, attribution partnerships and brand suitability controls, which let brands choose the kinds of conversations their ads appear near.
ChatGPT Ads now in 89 countries
On October 21, OpenAI said ChatGPT Ads expanded to 26 additional countries, bringing availability to 89 countries worldwide. It also said more than 100,000 advertisers have used the platform.
OpenAI says the next phase will bring more ad formats, campaign objectives, buying options and measurement tools.
Who sees ads, and who doesn't
The new visual format is being tested with Free and Go users. OpenAI's help center explains which plans show ads; if you want to avoid them, check it before choosing a plan. We compare them in ChatGPT Go vs Plus and in our guide to the cheapest AI subscriptions.
Why it matters
Running AI models for hundreds of millions of free users is expensive, and ads are the classic way to pay for a free product. The concern for users is trust. People tell chatbots things they wouldn't type into a search box, so how ads are targeted, and how clearly they're separated from answers, will shape whether users stay comfortable. OpenAI says ads are labeled and kept apart from responses. Watch for whether that holds as formats multiply.
Sources
ScoviAI Team is the ScoviAI newsroom. We write every article ourselves from the original announcements and link our sources. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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