On October 5, 2026, OpenAI announced that it is adding a new format to ChatGPT ads. While you are generating an image in ChatGPT, it will show image-based ads, called visual ads. The test will start in the US with a limited group of advertisers.
The announcement
According to the official announcement and news reports, the visual ad test will begin in the US in late October 2026. Participation is limited to a small group of advertisers selected for the first phase.
OpenAI says the ads will use images to present things like product ideas, ways to use a product, and the experiences a service offers. This adds an image-based format to ChatGPT ads, which until now have been mainly text-based.
How the ads will be displayed
To avoid confusing users, OpenAI has set out the following points.
- Ads will be clearly labeled as ads
- Ads will be shown separately from the images ChatGPT is generating
- Ads will not influence ChatGPT's answers
OpenAI also revealed that the number of people using ChatGPT every week has reached 1.2 billion.
More measurement tools for advertisers
The announcement also includes new features for advertisers. OpenAI says it will add more integrations for measuring purchases and sign-ups that come through ads (conversions) and work with more measurement partners. It will also run a pilot with the ad verification companies DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science to check whether ads appear in brand-appropriate contexts.
CoAI's take
ChatGPT ads have been expanding to more regions through 2026, and this is the first ad format designed around a specific use: image generation. For now it is only a test in the US, and no date has been announced for availability outside the US. If you would rather not see ads, it is worth checking OpenAI's guidance on whether your plan shows ads.
