March 13, 2026 — San Francisco
OpenAI rolled out advertising in ChatGPT around February 2026 as a pilot program, pricing it at $60 per thousand impressions (CPM)—three times Meta’s typical rates and comparable to premium video like Netflix or NFL. ChatGPT advertising launches live at $60 CPM, marking a major shift in AI-driven digital marketing.[1] This high-value approach targets conversational ads in AI chat interfaces for Free and “Go” tiers available to US users, with a $200,000 minimum commitment and basic reporting on impressions and clicks.
Rollout Timeline and Premium Pricing
Initial reports from The Information on January 26, 2026, detailed OpenAI seeking premium ad pricing at approximately $60 CPM, requiring advertiser commitments rivaling NFL video rates. Coverage from Search Engine Land, eMarketer, and Medium in late January confirmed the debut, noting limited data and attribution compared to Meta’s $10-20 CPM. By mid-February, TrendingTopics.eu and ALM Corp verified the live launch with aggressive placements. ChatGPT advertising launches live at $60 CPM, marking a major shift in AI-driven digital marketing.[1]
Criteo Integration and Early Access
On March 2, 2026, Criteo became the first major ad-tech platform to integrate, granting ~17,000 advertisers programmatic access to ChatGPT ad placements. This US-focused rollout emphasizes monetizing AI interfaces, though measurement challenges persist early on, as noted by Search Engine Land.
Recent Confirmations and Industry Context
As of March 12, 2026, user reports on X confirmed ads appearing for free US users. Sherwood News around March 6 highlighted OpenAI’s active ad displays and agency talks, positioning ChatGPT advertising launches live at $60 CPM, marking a major shift in AI-driven digital marketing.[1] amid broader LLM monetization trends. No official OpenAI blog post was cited; details primarily stem from leaks and secondary reporting. ChatGPT advertising launches live at $60 CPM, marking a major shift in AI-driven digital marketing.[1]
This development underscores evolving strategies for high-value AI ad channels, with ALM Corp providing strategic analysis. For related insights, see SEO Spyglass sitemap.