ChatGPT Ads on the Free Plan: What You'll See and What to Do

ChatGPT ads are coming to more people, and a new kind is about to show up while you make pictures. If you use the free version of ChatGPT, you may soon see a labeled "sponsored" image or message next to your answers. That's normal and it's not a scam. But it's worth knowing what an ad looks like, who gets them, and how to make sure an ad never makes a decision for you. This guide covers all of it in plain English.

What's changing with ChatGPT ads

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has been testing ads for a while in its Free plan and its low-cost Go plan. In early October it announced a new type: visual ads that appear while you're creating images.

According to eWeek's report on the announcement:

• OpenAI plans to begin testing the visual ad format in the US later this month, with an initial group of advertisers.
• Sponsored images will appear during image generation but stay separate from the images you create.
• The visual ads will be labeled.
• Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu accounts don't get ads.
• Eligible Free users can choose an ads-free version with lower limits.

So if you pay for ChatGPT, nothing changes. If you use it free, you'll see some ads, or you can pick the ad-free option and accept fewer messages.

What ChatGPT ads look like

You'll mostly run into two kinds.

Ads next to regular answers. These are short sponsored messages that may relate to what you're asking about. Ask about planning a trip, and you might see a hotel ad. eWeek notes that earlier ChatGPT ad tests can use conversation context to decide when an ad may be relevant.

Picture ads while you make images. If you ask ChatGPT to create a birthday card or a picture of your garden, a sponsored image could show up alongside, clearly separate from your own picture.

Look for the label. Words like "Sponsored" or "Ad" mark them. If you don't see a label, it's part of ChatGPT's answer.

Does an ad change the answer?

OpenAI says ads are kept separate and labeled. Even so, the smart move is to treat ChatGPT ads like ads anywhere else: a suggestion from someone who paid to be there.

A few habits that help:

• Read the answer first, then the ad. The answer is ChatGPT's best effort. The ad is a pitch.
• Ask for options. "Give me three choices for a walk-in bathtub and the pros and cons of each." That way you're not anchored on one brand.
• Ask directly. "Is anything in that reply an ad?" It's a fair question.
• Check before you buy. Look the company up yourself. Read reviews. Compare prices on a site you trust.

Watch out for fake ads that look like ChatGPT

Here's where you need to be careful. Whenever a big name like ChatGPT is in the news, scammers copy it.

Be suspicious of:

• Emails or texts saying "Your ChatGPT account has ads. Pay $4.99 to remove them." Any real choice about ads is made inside the app or website, not through a random message.
• Ads on Facebook or Google for "ChatGPT Premium Free Download." The real ChatGPT is at chatgpt.com or in the official app from OpenAI in your app store.
• Pop-ups that say you won something from ChatGPT. You didn't.

If a message asks for your card number to "fix" ChatGPT, delete it. Our guide on AI scam calls covers the most common tricks and what to say.

Should you pay to avoid ChatGPT ads?

Honestly, most beginners don't need to. Here's a simple way to decide.

Stick with free if:

• You use ChatGPT a few times a week for questions, letters or recipes.
• Ads don't bother you.
• You'd rather keep the money.

Pick the ad-free option on the Free plan if:

• Ads distract you, but you don't use ChatGPT much anyway. The lower limits may not matter to you.

Consider a paid plan if:

• You use it every day and keep running into limits.
• You want no ads at all and the strongest version.

If you're still deciding which AI tool to use in the first place, our comparison of ChatGPT vs Gemini for beginners lays out the differences simply.

A practical example

Let's say you ask: "I want to make my grandson a birthday card with a dinosaur playing baseball."

ChatGPT makes the picture. Next to it, you might see a labeled ad for a card printing service. That's fine. Your picture is yours. You can download it, print it at home, or ignore the ad completely.

Then try asking: "What are the cheapest ways to print this card at home or at a local store?" Now you're getting options, not a single sponsor.

Making cards and pictures is one of the most fun things to do with AI. Our guide to AI for grandparents has more ideas you can try with the grandkids.

The bigger lesson: you're in charge

Ads aren't new. They're on TV, in the newspaper and on every website. What matters is knowing which part is an ad and which part is information.

The same skill helps everywhere online. Slow down. Look for labels. Ask questions. Check before you pay.

Using the HAT method from our book (tell the AI who you are, how to talk to you, and what you need), you can even ask ChatGPT to help: "I'm 70 and new to this. Please explain in simple words how to tell an ad from a real answer in ChatGPT."

Common questions

Are ChatGPT ads on the free plan? Yes. Ads are being tested on the Free and Go plans. Paid plans like Plus and Pro don't get them.

What are the new picture ads? Labeled sponsored images that can appear while you create images, kept separate from your own picture. US testing starts later this month, according to eWeek.

Can I turn ads off without paying? Eligible Free users can choose an ads-free version with lower limits.

Do ads mean ChatGPT is less trustworthy? OpenAI says ads are separate and labeled. Treat them like any ad: a suggestion, not advice.

Learn AI the easy way

ChatGPT will keep changing: new features, new looks, now ads. The basics that keep you confident and safe don't change much.

Our book, AI for Boomers, walks you through everything step by step in large, easy-to-read print. It's 296 pages, starts from zero, and if it doesn't save you time in 30 days, we'll refund you. If you can send a text, you can do this.