OpenAI Drives ChatGPT Ad Prices to Super Bowl Levels

The Era of Advertising in AI Chat Begins

As OpenAI continues preparations to transition its popular AI chat tool ChatGPT to an advertising model, emerging pricing details are drawing attention. According to a report by The Information, the company is evaluating a price of around $60 per thousand impressions for ads displayed within ChatGPT.

Same Price Category as the Super Bowl

This figure places ChatGPT ads in the same cost band as live National Football League (NFL) broadcasts. Specifically, the pricing is at a level comparable to ad slots during premium events like the Super Bowl. OpenAI defends this high price by likening it to television advertising, emphasizing that viewer exposure is more important than direct interaction.

Performance Data Remains Limited

The ad model will operate on an impression basis, not a click basis. According to a media buyer working with early advertisers, OpenAI plans to provide only high-level performance data. While total impressions and total click numbers will be shared, in-depth user behavior analysis or segmentation information will not be provided.

Current signals indicate that click-through rates could be quite low compared to traditional search platforms, especially Google. ChatGPT's inherent nature of keeping users on the platform is seen as a factor reducing the likelihood of clicks on external links.

Ad Placement and Subscription Model

It is stated that ads will appear below ChatGPT responses, and the responses themselves will not be altered. The company commits that ads will not influence the generated responses and that user information, including personal health data, will not be used to train the advertising model.

Users on the free tier and the $8 'Go' subscription will see ads. GPT Plus subscribers paying $20 per month will be exempt from ads. The system is expected to launch primarily in the United States within weeks.

Evaluation Challenges and the Future

Experts note that, unlike television advertising with decades of audience measurement standards, how to evaluate attention within an AI interface has not yet been defined. Without clearer evidence regarding user interaction or results, it becomes difficult for advertisers to measure the value of ChatGPT impressions.

This development is seen as part of the maturation process of commercial models for AI tools. Other tech giants may take similar steps. For instance, initiatives like SpaceX's satellite application for AI show that infrastructure investments are also progressing in parallel with this ecosystem.