ChatGPT Users Report Seeing Ads for the First Time

Recent user reports suggest that OpenAI may be internally testing advertisements within ChatGPT. These findings emerged just days after an engineer uncovered references to ad-related code in the Android beta version of the platform.

On November 29, software engineer Tibor Blaho posted on X that he discovered explicit mentions of an “advertising feature” in the ChatGPT Android app beta version 1.2025.329. According to Blaho, the code referenced terms such as “marketplace content,” “search ads,” and “search ad carousel,” sparking speculation about whether OpenAI is preparing to introduce ads into its product.

Now, a user on X claims to have encountered an actual ad during a live ChatGPT conversation. As reported in the post, while discussing “Elon on Nikhil’s podcast,” a promotional card unexpectedly appeared.

The ad read: “Looking for fitness classes? Connect with Peloton.” The user emphasized that, at the very least, the advertisement should have been contextually relevant to his ongoing conversation.

Some users have pointed out that if ads are rolled out across the entire platform, OpenAI should consider lowering the price of its paid subscription plans.

These reports surfaced shortly after OpenAI launched its Shopping Research feature, which transforms ChatGPT into a personalized shopping assistant powered by a specialized variant of GPT-5 mini. This tool helps users research products, compare options, and access buying guides sourced from high-quality retail channels.

At launch, OpenAI stressed that product listings are not sponsored, user chat data is not shared with retailers, and merchants have no influence over rankings. The shopping capability was framed as an organic, utility-driven enhancement to ChatGPT’s existing features.

The sudden appearance of both ad-related code and user-reported in-chat promotions has now raised new questions about OpenAI’s monetization strategy. It remains unclear whether these ads are part of a controlled experiment, an early rollout, or somehow connected to OpenAI’s previously stated commitment to non-sponsored shopping functionality.