{"url":"https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/","title":"ChatGPT Ads After 500 Questions","domain":"wired.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/30530409/pexels-photo-30530409.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"artificial intelligence chatbot computer","category":"Tech","language":"en","slug":"16d2454d","id":"16d2454d-e309-49b5-acf7-b64d5ba43abd","description":"Wired writer Reece Rogers tested ChatGPT ads by asking 500 questions on the free mobile app.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Wired writer Reece Rogers tested ChatGPT ads by asking 500 questions on the free mobile app.\n- Ads appeared roughly once every five questions in new threads, tailored to topics like travel which triggered them most.\n- The ads create a surveillance feel and may erode trust in the AI despite no influence on responses.\n\n## The story at a glance\nWired service writer Reece Rogers asked ChatGPT 500 questions to check out the new ads rolling out on the free tier in the US. OpenAI started testing ads in February 2026, with broader rollout after early March. The piece details ad frequency, examples, and concerns about privacy and trust.[[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/)[[2]](https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often)\n\n## Key points\n- Questions mimicked common uses like seeking info or practical advice, based on OpenAI's reported patterns.\n- Ads show at the bottom of responses in new conversation threads, with a website link button, about one per five questions.\n- Travel queries triggered ads most often, like Booking.com for a Palm Springs trip plan that auto-searched hotels.\n- Examples include Uber for gig economy questions, Page Six newsletter for worst TV shows, University of Minnesota MBA for Harvard vs. Stanford.\n- Other ads covered dog food, printers, productivity software, food delivery, streaming services, AI tools, and more.\n- Ads draw from question topic, past chats, and user data stored by ChatGPT; OpenAI says they don't affect answers or share full conversations with advertisers.\n- Sometimes ads promote competitors, like rivals to DoorDash or Netflix.\n\n## Details and context\nRogers noticed ads in early March 2026 after OpenAI's US testing began in February. The rollout is gradual, with limited advertisers and formats, as OpenAI iterates and hires for ad roles to handle performance, safety, and trust risks.[[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/)\n\nThe author describes an \"aura of surveillance\" from tailored ads, making chats feel less private. This contrasts with CEO Sam Altman's past comments against ads, calling them a \"last resort\" to keep the free tier accessible.[[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/)\n\nExperts like Columbia's Olivier Toubia note \"poaching\" competitor ads as common; marketer Stefano Puntoni warns against aggressive ads that could lose users or trust in this emerging market.[[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/)\n\n## Key quotes\n\"I hate ads.\"[[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/) – Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, in past statements.\n\n\"Ads plus AI is sort of uniquely unsettling.\"[[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/) – Sam Altman.\n\n## Why it matters\nOpenAI's ad push tests if AI chats can monetize without alienating users who expect privacy. Free-tier users now see frequent, topic-matched ads that could shift habits toward paid plans or rivals like Gemini or Claude. Watch for changes in ad frequency, formats, or user backlash as the rollout expands.","hashtags":["#chatgpt","#openai","#ads","#ai","#privacy","#advertising"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.wired.com/story/i-asked-chatgpt-500-questions-here-are-the-ads-i-saw-most-often/","title":"Original article"}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-07T23:20:47.490Z"}