OpenAI denies ads on ChatGPT plans amid rising user concerns

It all began when some paying ChatGPT users saw strange "recommendation bubbles." For instance, when someone asked about BitLocker (a Windows security feature), ChatGPT also showed a suggestion to "Shop for home and groceries" for a well-known retail brand at the end of the answer. A lot of people thought these were ads.

Since ChatGPT had been mostly ad-free so far, even for its free tier, the appearance of something that looked like an ad made people worry. People started to wonder if the platform was becoming more businesslike. Are these the first "ChatGPT paid plan ads"? Could this make users less likely to trust the tool or make it more like social media with ads built into the app? That argument quickly gained ground.

OpenAI says no to ads(OpenAI denies ads), what they say now.

The official position is that these are suggestions, not ads.

OpenAI says that what users saw were not real ads, but "app recommendations." An executive wrote on X that the company had just added support for third-party apps built with ChatGPT's app SDK and wanted them to look more "organic." So, the suggestion for a Target store was called an app suggestion, not a paid placement.

The company says that there is "no financial component" behind those suggestions. In other words, the partner paid for placement, so they aren't being shown, at least not yet, under any public or official ad program.

OpenAI stopped the feature after users complained.

The pushback came right away. A lot of people who paid for the service were angry because they felt like they were getting unwanted ads. In response, OpenAI said that the way the suggestions were put into action "fell short." They turned off these "app suggestions that look like ads" for a short time.

Another report says that the company has also put off its plans for more advertising. CEO Sam Altman called an internal "code red," which changed the order of priorities so that improving ChatGPT's core performance came before adding ad features. That means that ads (or suggestions that look like ads) are not a top priority right now.

Why have ads been thought about, pressures from within, and hints from the past

OpenAI had thought about ads (or some other way to make money) for a number of reasons.

Money worries. A small number of ChatGPT users pay for Plus or Pro plans. Even though there are a lot of users, most of the money comes from paying users.

• Testing in code. Some beta-build code strings in the Android version of ChatGPT talked about an "ads feature," a "search ads carousel," and "bazaar content." That led to rumors that OpenAI was about to start showing ads to a lot of people.

• Pressure from the industry. Some other big tech companies have made money from their AI and search tools by showing ads. It's easy to see why this makes sense: with a huge active base, a few cents per user per visit can add up. If done well, it's a good business move. A lot of people at OpenAI think that ad revenue might be necessary in the long run.

So, at least within the company, there was serious thought given to the idea of adding some kind of monetization, even to ChatGPT.

What this means for users now: clear, careful, and unclear areas

For users right now, even those on paid tiers, it seems like things have gone back to how they were before: no visible ads or suggestions. The "app suggestion" feature that caused the uproar has been turned off.

But this doesn't mean that ads are never going to happen. The fact that OpenAI looked into app suggestions, tested ad-related code, and thought about using ads as a way

Ay to make money shows that the door is still open. Reports say that ads may eventually show up, but they might be more subtle, only for free users, or as new features like app integration or "agentic commerce."
If ads come back, the problem will be trust.

If users think that sponsorship or placement fees might affect some answers or product listings, they might not trust ChatGPT as an unbiased assistant. That's the line that separates making money from keeping AI's integrity.

For example, what happened with the "Target suggestion"?

This whole argument started because of something that really happened. A paying ChatGPT user asked for help with Windows BitLocker. At the end of the reply, instead of just getting advice about encryption, they saw a bubble that said "Shop for home and groceries" with a link to a Target store. Many people thought that was wrong. Why would a suggestion for groceries come up when the user was asking about encryption?

OpenAI said that the bubble was not a paid ad but an app suggestion in response to user complaints. This was part of their new pilot program to integrate third-party apps. They did say, though, that the positioning was bad and that they would stop taking those suggestions after the complaints.

This example shows how easy it is for lines to blur between helpful "app suggestions," harmless features, and what looks like ads. For users, it's often about how something feels.

Important Points, Good and Bad

Pros: OpenAI is listening. They quickly turned off the feature after users were upset. That shows that you care about what users think and trust.

• Users who pay for the service still don't see ads. The promise of "no ads for paying customers" is still in effect (for now).
• The break gives OpenAI time to improve its method. If ads come back, they might be better integrated by being less intrusive, more relevant, and clearer.

Cons / Risks

• Past leaks and internal code suggest that ads might come back, maybe in ways that aren't obvious. That could make users less trusting, especially those who think the service is only for AI help.
• The "app suggestions" model already showed how hard it can be to tell the difference between a feature and an ad. Integrations that are more complicated (like shopping, commerce, and third-party apps) might make the line between them less clear.
• If making money becomes the norm, AI tools like ChatGPT could become just another commercial platform, which could change how people use and trust them.

Questions and Answers

Will ChatGPT now show ads on paid plans?
No. As of December 7, 2025, OpenAI said it wouldn't put ads on ChatGPT paid plans and turned off the app-suggestion feature that looked like ads.

Why did I get a shopping suggestion when I asked about something else?
OpenAI says that was probably part of a pilot "app suggestion" feature and not a paid ad. After getting feedback from users, they have stopped making those suggestions.

Are there plans for OpenAI ads in the future?
Maybe. Internal reports show that Android beta builds have code related to ads and that the company is thinking more about making money through ads, especially since it needs to make more money. But it looks like the current plans are on hold because quality improvement has been made a higher priority.

Is it possible to turn off ads or suggestions in ChatGPT?
There is no need to turn off the "app suggestions that looked like ads" right now because they are already off. OpenAI hasn't said yet if there will be a toggle for user control if ads or suggestions come back.

Final  thoughts

The "ChatGPT ads" controversy and the headline "OpenAI denies ads" show us how easy it is to lose trust when using AI tools that millions of people use. OpenAI acted quickly on one hand, made it clear that what people saw was not a paid ad, and turned off the feature that worried people. The internal code leaks and plans for making money, on the other hand, show that ads are still a possibility.

If you use ChatGPT, whether you pay for it or not, you should pay attention right now. The platform might stay ad-free, or you might start seeing more subtle ads, suggestions, or integrations in the future. I recommend that you keep an eye on official OpenAI channels and what the community has to say.

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