OpenAI Begins Testing Image Ads Within ChatGPT in October

OpenAI announced that it will begin testing image ads inside the ChatGPT platform later this October, with the test launching first in the United States with a select group of advertisers. The company explained that the ads will be displayed during the image generation process and will remain separate from the user-generated image so as not to mix with the requested result.

The company expanded its measurement tools through collaborations with Hightouch, Tealium, and LiveRamp, enabling advertisers to connect campaign results with their first-party data and measure impact more accurately. It also added a list of attribution partners including AppsFlyer, Triple Whale, Adjust, DV Rockerbox, Northbeam, Branch, Singular, Kochava, Airbridge, and Tenjin.

Advertisers are monitoring the new format's ability to deliver advertising messages without interrupting the platform's user experience, an issue that has raised repeated questions regarding ad formats and available inventory size. The announcement coincided with the opening of Advertising Week in New York, where the industry awaits clearer details on the new format.

The test gives advertisers in the United States an opportunity to evaluate an image-based ad format within conversations prior to any expansion into other markets, as the launch begins on a limited scale according to the company. The key question facing brands remains how accurate the new measurement tools are in attributing results to the ad itself.

What do these terms mean?

Attribution: Identifying the channel or ad that drove the user to purchase, i.e., crediting the ad that produced the result. Measurement: Collecting campaign performance data such as impressions, clicks, and conversions. Ad Inventory: The space available to display ads to users.