OpenAI is updating its privacy policy with new details on ads, data usage and upcoming features across its products, including ChatGPT.
The update was shared with ChatGPT users and outlines how advertising will work inside ChatGPT — and what data advertisers can and cannot access.
Why we care. OpenAI’s update makes it clear that user privacy is a top priority: personal chats, histories, and details are never shared with advertisers. Ads can still be personalized using anonymized engagement signals, meaning brands can reach relevant audiences without compromising sensitive data.
This approach lets advertisers measure performance safely while building trust with users in a privacy-conscious environment.
Ads in ChatGPT Ads may appear for users on Free and Go plans, while paid tiers — Plus, Pro, Enterprise, Business and Education — will remain ad-free. OpenAI says ads will always be clearly labeled as sponsored and visually separated from chatbot responses.
The company also stresses that advertising will not influence answers generated by ChatGPT.
How ad targeting works. OpenAI says ads may be personalized using signals that stay within ChatGPT, such as ad interactions or the context of a user’s chat. However, the company says advertisers will not have access to conversations, chat history, personal details or user memories.
Instead, advertisers will only receive aggregated performance metrics such as total views or clicks.
Other privacy updates The revised policy also introduces optional contact syncing to help users find friends who use OpenAI services. Users can choose whether or not to enable this feature.
OpenAI also added new transparency around how long data is stored, how it is processed and what controls users have over it.
Safety and product changes. The policy update also references new tools and safeguards, including age prediction systems designed to create safer experiences for teens. OpenAI also added documentation for newer features and projects such as Atlas, Sora 2 and parental controls for teen accounts.
Bottom line. As OpenAI expands advertising in ChatGPT, the company is emphasizing strict boundaries around user privacy — promising advertisers performance insights without access to personal conversations or user data.
First seen. This update was first shared by Paid Media expert Arpan Banerjee who shared tips on this message on LinkedIn.
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