OpenAI has finally addressed growing concerns from ChatGPT users who claim they are seeing ads inside the chatbot. Viral screenshots showing what appears to be a Target shopping link triggered widespread speculation online—prompting OpenAI to publicly clarify that no advertisements are being tested or displayed.
Rumors about ChatGPT displaying ads exploded on social media this week after several users posted screenshots appearing to show a Target promotion inside the interface.
Responding to the confusion, OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, issued a statement on X on Saturday, firmly rejecting the claims. Turley said:
“There are no live tests for ads — any screenshots you've seen are either not real or not ads. If we do pursue ads, we'll take a thoughtful approach. People trust ChatGPT and anything we do will be designed to respect that.”
His response comes as ChatGPT now serves more than 800 million weekly users, many of whom expressed frustration about the possibility of sponsored content appearing in conversations.
How the rumours started
Earlier this week, X user Benjamin De Kraker posted a screenshot from his ChatGPT Plus subscription, claiming the chatbot displayed a prompt labelled “ADS TO SHOP AT TARGET” while he was asking about Windows BitLocker.
The post quickly went viral, amplifying fears that OpenAI had quietly rolled out advertising.
De Kraker criticized the move, writing that such features would drive users away:
“Yeah, screw this. Lose all your users.”
The real explanation
According to OpenAI, the link shown in the viral screenshot is likely tied to a new shopping feature, not advertising.
In late September, OpenAI introduced its first step toward agentic commerce, allowing users to browse products from across the web directly inside ChatGPT. The update includes:
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An Instant Checkout feature built with Stripe
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Automatic product recommendations based on user queries
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A “Buy” option for supported items
This system is meant to help users shop more efficiently, not push paid advertisements.
OpenAI’s website notes that the bot displays relevant products only when a user expresses shopping intent—similar to a built-in digital assistant rather than a traditional ad service.
Ads might still be coming — But not yet
OpenAI has publicly acknowledged that it is exploring advertising options for the future, which many analysts say is unsurprising given the platform’s massive user base and the high cost of running AI models.
Tech developer Tibor Blaho also claimed in November that he found references to an “ads feature” inside ChatGPT’s Android app code. While such discoveries often hint at upcoming features, experts caution that internal code can reflect experiments rather than confirmed product plans.
Any movement toward ads appears to have been paused following the highly praised launch of Google’s Gemini 3 last month.
Multiple outlets reported that OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, issued a “code red,” instructing teams to focus more resources on ChatGPT and temporarily delay other product rollouts—including ads.
The company is now prioritizing competitive upgrades to maintain market dominance in the rapidly shifting AI landscape.
OpenAI, Turley, and De Kraker did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for further comment.
