OpenAI ads pilot hits $100m annualised revenue in 2 months

OpenAI's emerging advertisements division has exceeded $100 million in yearly recurring income in just under two months since its initial US pilot, according to a company representative.

The AI technology company stated in January that it intended to experiment with advertisements for its free users and ChatGPT Go subscribers in the United States, potentially unlocking a valuable new revenue avenue. 

This initiative was mocked by competitor Anthropic, which centered their inaugural Super Bowl advertising effort around OpenAI's ad initiative.

OpenAI is collaborating with over 600 marketers and has observed no effect on privacy-based trust metrics, the representative mentioned. 

The company is also looking into additional trials in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Adverts within ChatGPT will be displayed at the bottom of the assistant's replies, won't affect the answers, and will be clearly marked, as per the January announcement. 

Users under 18 won't be shown ads, and such content will avoid specific topics like politics, health, and mental wellbeing, according to OpenAI.

Approximately 85% of OpenAI's free and Go users in the United States qualify to view ads, but less than 20% encounter them daily, the representative stated on Thursday.

Despite the pilot's early achievements, certain advertisers have been displeased with its gradual and careful rollout, CNBC highlighted earlier this month. OpenAI expressed that the ads program's measured approach was purposeful.

"We're at the initial testing stage of ads in ChatGPT, aiming to learn and enhance the consumer experience before a wider expansion," the company stated. 

"We're motivated by early feedback from users and participating companies, and continue to witness strong interest from advertisers."