OpenAI Opens Up Ads Test Below ChatGPT Replies on Free and Go Plans - DTH

OpenAI has officially begun testing banner advertisements for users on its free and newly expanded "Go" tiers, a strategic pivot aimed at monetizing its massive user base while projecting profitability remains four years away. The move coincides with the global rollout of the $8 monthly "Go" plan, which offers enhanced access to GPT-5.2 but will not exempt subscribers from advertising placements.

Key Points

• OpenAI Ad Integration: Banner ads will appear below chat responses for Free and "Go" plan subscribers, leaving only Pro and Enterprise users ad-free.
• Trade Policy Shift: Canada has agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for reduced duties on canola exports.
• Tesla Strategy Change: The automaker is discontinuing the one-time purchase option for Full Self-Driving (FSD), moving exclusively to a subscription model.
• Regulatory Action: Italy has opened investigations into Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard over aggressive monetization tactics targeting minors.

OpenAI Expands Tiered Access Amid Ad Rollout

In a significant shift to its revenue model, OpenAI is expanding its $8 "Go" plan globally while simultaneously introducing advertising to its lower-tier services. The "Go" plan provides users with ten times the message capacity, file uploads, and image generation capabilities of the free tier, alongside access to GPT-5.2. However, unlike the higher-priced Pro and Enterprise subscriptions, "Go" users will encounter banner ads.

According to the company, these advertisements will be clearly labeled and positioned below chatbot responses. OpenAI maintains that advertising content will not influence the AI's generated output. This monetization drive comes as the company reveals it does not anticipate reaching profitability until 2030. despite boasting 800 million weekly users, only 5% constitute paying subscribers.

"Critics aren't convinced that advertising will meaningfully offset costs, but OpenAI is apparently willing to try."

Automotive Market and Trade Adjustments

Significant changes are reshaping the electric vehicle (EV) landscape across North America. Canada has finalized a trade agreement with China, permitting the import of up to 49,000 Chinese EVs at a reduced 6.1% tariff rate. This concession was leveraged to secure lower duties on Canadian canola products, highlighting the growing intersection of agricultural trade and automotive policy. Concurrently, signals from the U.S. suggest that Chinese automakers may be permitted entry into the American market, provided they establish domestic manufacturing facilities.

Domestically, Tesla is altering how it sells its autonomous driving technology. The company is eliminating the lump-sum purchase option for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, making the feature available exclusively through a monthly subscription. With FSD adoption currently hovering at 12%, the move to a lower-barrier $99 monthly price point is designed to increase uptake while potentially limiting legal liability amidst ongoing regulatory scrutiny.

Regulatory Pressures and Platform Updates

European regulators continue to scrutinize major tech firms. Italy’s competition regulator has launched two probes into Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard, targeting Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile. The authority alleges that game design elements manipulate players, particularly minors, into recurring spending without clear pricing, potentially violating consumer protection laws regarding gaming addiction.

Simultaneously, TikTok is deploying new age-detection technology across Europe following a pilot program in the UK. Developed in consultation with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, the system analyzes profile data and behavioral signals to identify users under 13. While flagged accounts will be reviewed by specialist moderators rather than automatically removed, the UK pilot previously resulted in thousands of account removals.

Media and Streaming Consolidation

In the streaming sector, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is maneuvering through a potential acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery. Addressing concerns from theater groups about market concentration, Sarandos affirmed that Warner Brothers films would retain a 45-day theatrical window post-acquisition, countering earlier speculation of a reduction to 17 days.

Additionally, YouTube has updated its monetization policies to be more permissive regarding controversial topics. Creators discussing sensitive subjects such as abortion or domestic abuse can now fully monetize their content, provided it is non-graphic and not dramatized. This marks a departure from automated demonetization toward a reliance on human moderation.

Looking Ahead

As 2026 progresses, the efficacy of OpenAI's ad-supported model will be a critical metric for the AI industry, potentially setting a precedent for how large language models sustain operations. Meanwhile, the deadline for Meta’s Workrooms users approaches; the app will be discontinued on February 16 as the company consolidates its metaverse efforts into the Horizon platform and refocuses capital on AI-integrated hardware.