U.S. artificial intelligence developer OpenAI said Friday that it has begun a trial for displaying advertisements in its ChatGPT generative AI chatbot for users in Japan.
The ads will appear on the free version and the Go plan, priced at ¥1,400 per month, but will not be shown to users under 18 or who subscribe to higher-priced tiers.
The trial is aimed at expanding OpenAI’s revenue sources amid cutthroat competition in AI development, which requires huge investment.
Ads related to ChatGPT responses will be displayed in a separate section, but their content will not influence the chatbot’s answers.
OpenAI will collaborate with Japanese marketing company Dentsu Digital and other partners to provide ads in Japan.
The AI powerhouse began testing ad displays on ChatGPT in the United States in February and has gradually expanded the trial to other countries. In May, the company announced plans to roll it out in five countries, including Japan, within weeks.
