ChatGPT tests visual ad units during image generation

OpenAI is testing a new in-app visual ad format that appears inside ChatGPT during image generation. Branded imagery appears in labeled, separate containers, and OpenAI says the ads do not steer or alter the model's generated image.

General testing rolls out across the US in mid-October, following earlier monetization trials beneath commerce and recipe prompts. Image generation is a natural slot: users wait for output, giving ads a dwell-time window.

Ads are a growing part of OpenAI's revenue plan as compute bills rise. The move arrives the same week Ethan Mollick said he had been 'complaining about some OpenAI choices.'

Watch user reaction, whether ads extend to paid tiers, and whether separating ads from model output holds up as formats evolve.