On January 18, 2026, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Go—an $8/month subscription tier that includes advertising. This marks the official beginning of OpenAI’s controversial push to monetize its 760 million free users.
Why pay $20/month for Plus if $8/month delivers a similar experience?
The core AI capability (GPT-5) is identical across tiers
Risk of cannibalizing the premium subscriber base
OpenAI has stated that ads will appear with “strong privacy controls” and that ad-free options remain available through Plus, Pro, and Enterprise tiers.
The company has hired over 630 former Meta employees to build its advertising infrastructure—signaling serious commitment to this revenue stream.
The Risk
Sam Altman has publicly expressed reservations about ads eroding user trust. The fundamental premise of ChatGPT—objective, helpful responses—becomes questionable once advertiser interests enter the equation.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
