OpenAI is reportedly exploring various ways to increase revenue, including the potential introduction of advertising into ChatGPT. According to foreign media reports, ChatGPT head Nick Turley recently stated that while it's unclear whether advertising is suitable for the AI chat tool, the company "would not completely rule it out." He emphasized that any advertising initiative must be implemented "very carefully and tastefully" to ensure it doesn't disrupt the user experience.
The AI giant, valued at over $80 billion, is facing profitability pressure. Despite rapid growth in subscription revenue—expected to reach $12.7 billion this year, more than triple last year's—the company remains loss-making and doesn't expect to achieve positive cash flow until 2029. ChatGPT currently has 700 million users, of which approximately 20 million are paid subscribers. Turley noted that free users are not a burden, but rather an opportunity to develop differentiated paid products.
OpenAI CEO Altman has been cautious about advertising strategies. Last year, he said that integrating advertising with AI "makes him uncomfortable" and would only be considered as a "last resort." However, in a recent podcast, he backtracked, stating that he's "not completely opposed to it." This wavering stance reflects the company's difficult balance between commercialization and user experience. Industry insiders believe that if OpenAI ultimately decides to introduce advertising, it will likely take a non-intrusive form, such as naturally integrating brand recommendations into conversations rather than traditional pop-up ads. This move has also sparked in-depth discussion within the industry about the commercialization model for AI products.
