Proposed Pricing Model
According to reporting from The Information, OpenAI is internally considering a cost of $60 per one thousand views (CPM) for ads shown inside ChatGPT. This price puts the AI‑driven platform in the same cost bracket as premium live National Football League (NFL) broadcast slots, including the Super Bowl.
Impression‑Based vs Click‑Based Pricing
The model is based on impressions rather than user actions. Advertisers would pay each time an ad is displayed, regardless of whether a user clicks on it. Traditional digital platforms such as Google rely heavily on click‑through rates (CTR) to justify spend, while television advertising historically values exposure over interaction.
Transparency and Performance Data
OpenAI plans to release only high‑level performance metrics – total impressions and total clicks – without deeper breakdowns or behavioral insights. A media buyer familiar with early advertisers said this mirrors TV reporting, where audience reach matters more than direct engagement.
- No granular data on click performance for ads or outbound links used in model training.
- OpenAI states ads will not influence generated responses and personal health data will not be used for ad targeting.
Impact on Advertisers
Without clear engagement metrics, advertisers may find it difficult to assess ROI. Click‑through rates for ChatGPT are expected to be low compared to search engines, because the interface does not naturally encourage users to click away.
- High CPM could be justified only if advertisers can prove brand awareness or downstream conversions.
- Lack of detailed analytics limits campaign optimization.
User Experience and Monetization
Free‑tier users and those on the $8 “Go” subscription will see ads, while GPT Plus subscribers paying $20 per month can opt out. The rollout is slated for the United States within weeks, marking the first major monetization effort for the chatbot.
Unlike social platforms or search engines, ChatGPT does not embed native links that drive traffic, raising questions about how “attention” inside an AI conversation should be valued.