Your ChatGPT is about to get ads — here's what you need to know and how to opt out

• ChatGPT announces ads are coming to its free tier
• An $8-a-month ChatGPT Go is also coming, but it will still have ads
• Opting out may require paying at least $20 a month

ChatGPT will soon have ads, at least on its free tier, and the news comes directly from OpenAI. The ads aren't in the chatbot yet, but you can expect to see them "in the coming weeks."

OpenAI finally confirmed the rumor in a detailed blog post on Friday (January 16, 2026) that outlines not only its ad plans, but also its principles for how and why they'll display them: "Our mission is to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity."

The AI giant simultaneously announced global availability of ChatGPT Go, a more affordable entry-level tier at $8 a month, which, unfortunatley will not be your first option for avoiding the advertising when ...