ChatGPT Ads Are Coming – And They’ll Look Nothing Like Google Ads

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that ChatGPT may introduce ads in the future, but unlike traditional digital ads, they won’t follow the same model that drives Google’s success. Instead, Altman envisions a more user-aligned, trust-based approach to monetization — one that doesn’t depend on poor search results.

A Different Vision from Google’s Ad Model

In a recent Conversations with Tyler interview, Altman highlighted what he sees as a fundamental flaw in Google’s advertising system:

“Ads on a Google search are dependent on Google doing badly. If it was giving you the best answer, there’d be no reason ever to buy an ad above it.”

Altman explained that Google profits when users don’t find what they’re looking for, while ChatGPT aims to profit when it provides genuine value. In his view, ChatGPT should only make money when it earns users’ trust — not when it manipulates rankings for ad dollars.

“If ChatGPT were accepting payment to put a worse hotel above a better hotel, that’s probably catastrophic for your relationship with ChatGPT,” he said.

How ChatGPT Ads Might Work

Altman hinted at a commission-based model for ChatGPT’s potential advertising approach. Rather than pay-to-play rankings, ChatGPT might display the best recommendation first, allowing users to book or buy directly within the conversation.

“If ChatGPT shows you its guess — the best hotel — and you book it with one click, it could take a small commission. That’s probably OK,” Altman said.

This model could reshape how brands appear in conversational search, moving from traditional keyword bidding to AI-driven recommendations.

What ChatGPT Won’t Do

Altman was clear about what he doesn’t want: sponsored answers that compromise integrity. He emphasized that if money starts influencing responses, user trust collapses — and that’s not a risk OpenAI is willing to take.

“There’s a kind of ad that would be really bad … and there are kinds that might be pretty good to do. I expect it’s something we’ll try at some point,” he added.

Why It Matters for Businesses and Marketers

If OpenAI successfully implements this new ad model, it could redefine the online search and commerce experience. The entire journey — from question to recommendation to purchase — might happen within one AI conversation.

For digital marketers, this means rethinking visibility strategies. Optimizing for conversational AI and recommendation-based search may soon become just as crucial as traditional SEO or paid ads.

As AI continues to redefine how users search, interact, and shop online, businesses need to evolve with smarter digital strategies. Earn SEO, a leading digital marketing agency in New York, helps brands stay ahead of the curve by optimizing for both traditional search engines and emerging AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT. Partner with us today to future-proof your marketing strategy and connect with customers in the new era of AI-powered discovery.