ChatGPT Ads hit $100M (yearly run rate) in revenue in 6 weeks. From less than 20% of eligible users.
Let that sink in. OpenAI has 600+ advertisers on the platform, self-serve access opening this month, and a runway that’s barely been touched.
This isn’t a curiosity anymore.
Here’s what the numbers actually mean 👇
85% of Free and Go tier users are eligible to see ads. Only 20% are currently seeing them. The $100M is essentially the proof of concept before the real rollout begins.
When self-serve opens up in April, this stops being an invite-only experiment and becomes a channel any advertiser can buy. CPMs are reportedly around $60. Minimum commitments drop. The herd arrives.
Should you care right now?
If you are in e-commerce, DTC, or any considered-purchase category — yes.
ChatGPT users aren’t scrolling. They’re actively asking, comparing, and deciding. That’s a different kind of intent than a banner ad or even a Google search. It’s closer to intercepting someone mid-conversation than mid-browse.
The format is still rough. Reporting is thin. Scale is limited outside the US for now. No one has written case studies yet.
But that’s exactly when it’s worth paying attention — before the platform matures, CPMs inflate, and everyone’s fighting over the same inventory.
We’re watching this one closely.
What’s your take — is ChatGPT ads a real channel in 2026, or still too early to justify budget?
