OpenAI is about to implement ad tests that include visual elements within ChatGPT. This new format will initially be presented during the image generation process and will have the ability to display products, usage suggestions, and experiences associated with the promoted services.
According to the company itself, these tests will begin this month in the United States. It is important to note that the ads will be clearly identified and kept separate from the content generated by ChatGPT, and the company assures that such advertisements do not interfere with the responses provided by the chatbot.
This update complements an advertising program already available in Brazil for users of the free versions and the Go plan. Previously, the advertising materials displayed in ChatGPT were simpler, containing only text, the company's name, its logo, and a hyperlink to the product or service. With the new addition, the model now incorporates images.
This advancement is part of a larger strategy to expand advertising on the platform. In August, it was announced that OpenAI was also testing ads that allowed users to start a conversation with an artificial intelligence developed by an advertising company.
In addition to the new format, the company has introduced more features so that brands can monitor the results of their campaigns on ChatGPT. Available metrics include clicks, conversions, and tests designed to determine whether a specific advertising campaign resulted in new sales.
OpenAI guarantees that partners responsible for brand safety verification will not have access to users' private conversations. Furthermore, the company's policies prohibit the airing of advertisements in contexts considered sensitive.
This distinction between advertising content and system responses is a fundamental principle adopted by the company since the beginning of the tests. When advertising was introduced into ChatGPT, OpenAI stated that advertisers would not exert any influence over the material produced by the AI.
The expansion of ads occurs while OpenAI works to transform ChatGPT into an increasingly integrated platform for product discovery and acquisition. The company has already implemented a shopping feature that displays prices, reviews, and direct links to stores within conversations. Later, it also enabled transactions within the chatbot itself in certain markets.
According to OpenAI, ads serve to increase the free reach of the service and constitute an additional revenue source to paid subscriptions. Currently, there is no set date for when image ads will be available in Brazil or other countries.
