OpenAI Starts ChatGPT Ads Tests With a $200K Minimum

ChatGPT is about to stop being “just” an answer engine and start behaving like a media channel.

That matters now because the moment ads enter an answer interface, you’re no longer only competing on SEO, content, or brand authority—you’re competing on paid placement inside the same experience where buyers ask questions, evaluate vendors, and form shortlists. If you rely on ChatGPT (and other answer engines like Google AI Overviews, Copilot, Perplexity, Brave, and Meta AI) to influence discovery, this is a real shift.

The news: OpenAI is rolling out beta ads in ChatGPT

OpenAI is rolling out beta ads on ChatGPT and is asking select advertisers for a minimum commitment of at least $200,000. As summarized in industry coverage aggregated by MediaGazer: “OpenAI says it is asking select advertisers to commit at least $200K as it rolls out beta ads on ChatGPT.” MediaGazer also notes that while OpenAI is asking select advertisers to commit at least $200,000, “two sources say their firms were pitched lower amounts.”

Separately, OpenAI has confirmed it is testing ads in ChatGPT, including for free users and $8 Go accounts. BleepingComputer reports: “OpenAI previously confirmed that it's testing ads in ChatGPT for free and $8 Go accounts.”

Adweek further reports that OpenAI confirmed the $200,000 minimum commitment and that “for some brands, ad testing starts as early as February 6.”

Analysis: what this means for B2B marketers

1) ChatGPT is moving from “influence” to “inventory”

Until now, marketers have treated ChatGPT primarily as an influence surface: you wanted your brand to show up in answers, recommendations, and comparisons. With OpenAI confirming ad testing in ChatGPT—including for free and $8 Go accounts—ChatGPT is also becoming a paid distribution surface.

If you’re a B2B marketer, the practical implication is simple: you should expect a new layer of competition inside the answer experience itself. That’s different from classic search ads because the user is often asking for synthesized guidance, not scanning a list of blue links.

2) The $200K minimum signals “enterprise-first” access

OpenAI asking select advertisers to commit at least $200,000 (as reported via MediaGazer and confirmed by Adweek) is a clear gating mechanism. In other words, early access is likely to be dominated by larger brands and agencies that can place meaningful bets.

For B2B, that creates an immediate risk: if your category leader (or a well-funded challenger) buys early inventory, they may shape buyer perception inside ChatGPT at the exact moment a prospect is asking “What should I buy?” or “Which vendor is best for X?”

3) The “some firms were pitched lower amounts” detail is your leverage

MediaGazer’s note that “two sources say their firms were pitched lower amounts” suggests flexibility in how commitments are being discussed. You shouldn’t assume the $200K threshold is the only path.

For B2B media buyers, this is a negotiating signal: if you have a compelling test plan, strong creative, or a strategic category (even if you’re not a household name), it may be worth exploring whether OpenAI will structure something below the headline minimum.

4) The timeline is immediate

Adweek reports ad testing starts “as early as February 6” for some brands. That’s not a “someday” roadmap item. It’s now.

Even if you can’t (or won’t) spend at this level, the existence of ads changes how you should think about Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): you’re optimizing for visibility in ChatGPT while also preparing for paid placements that may compete with, complement, or even displace organic-style brand mentions in the user’s attention.

Action items: what to do right now

1) Decide if you’re a buyer—or an observer—with a plan

Based on the reporting that OpenAI is asking select advertisers for at least $200,000 (and that some firms were pitched lower), pick a lane:

• **Buyer lane:** You want to explore ChatGPT ads now.
• **Observer lane:** You won’t buy in beta, but you will actively monitor impact and prepare.

What you don’t want is “passive observer,” where competitors test and you learn about it after the fact.

2) Pressure-test your AEO strategy against an ad-filled interface

OpenAI has confirmed ad testing in ChatGPT for free and $8 Go accounts. That means the experience where many users interact with ChatGPT can include ads.

Your immediate move: run a quick internal audit of your most valuable “answer journeys.” Identify the questions prospects ask that lead to:

• category definition
• vendor comparisons
• “best” lists
• implementation/ROI questions

Then align your content and messaging so it’s resilient whether the user sees your brand as a recommendation, a cited source, or a paid placement.

3) Get your media team and content team in the same room

ChatGPT ads will sit inside an answer context. That means:

• Media buyers need messaging that fits the moment of inquiry.
• Content teams need to understand which questions are monetizing first.

Even without more detail on ad formats (none has been provided in the verified claims), you can prepare by building a shared map of:

• highest-intent questions
• proof points you can defend
• claims you can support in a short, direct ad message

4) If you want in, start the conversation with a test thesis

Adweek reports OpenAI confirmed the $200,000 minimum commitment, and MediaGazer reports some firms were pitched lower amounts. If you’re going to pursue access, don’t lead with “What are the rates?” Lead with:

• the audience you want to reach
• the questions you want to intercept
• what success looks like (pipeline influence, qualified demand, brand lift—whatever your team uses)
• what you’ll learn in a beta

Your goal is to be a “good beta partner,” not just a budget.

Bottom line

OpenAI has confirmed it’s testing ads in ChatGPT (including free and $8 Go accounts), and reporting from MediaGazer and Adweek indicates a $200,000 minimum commitment for select advertisers, with some brands testing as early as February 6. For B2B marketers, this is the start of paid competition inside the answer layer—plan for it now, whether you’re buying in or not.