Are ChatGPT Ads the Next Big Ad Channel?

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Something big is brewing in the world of digital ads, and it’s happening inside ChatGPT.

OpenAI just made a very interesting hire that hints at where things are headed: paid campaigns running directly inside ChatGPT.

With more than 700 million weekly users, ChatGPT is already one of the most widely used digital platforms on the planet. And if OpenAI’s next move is to let brands reach that audience through conversational ads, we might be looking at the next major paid media channel.

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OpenAI’s Next Move: Turning ChatGPT Into a Paid Media Platform

OpenAI recently posted a job for a Growth Paid Marketing Platform Engineer — a fancy title, but what it really means is: they’re building ad tech.

The role focuses on things like:

• Campaign management tools
• Real time reporting pipelines
• Attribution systems that show what’s working (and what’s not)

In other words, OpenAI isn’t just experimenting with ads - they’re laying the foundation for a marketing ecosystem built right into ChatGPT. Imagine something like Google Ads, but powered by real time AI conversations instead of search queries.

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Why This Matters for Brands

Rumor has it OpenAI plans to monetise ChatGPT with ads by 2026. If that’s true, we could soon see brands running ChatGPT campaigns that show up naturally in conversations.

Picture this: you’re using ChatGPT to plan a trip, and it suggests a flight deal from Delta or a hotel offer from Marriott, all integrated seamlessly into the chat.

No pop-ups. No banners. Just ads that actually feel helpful.

That’s a completely new way to reach people - in the right context, conversationally, and right at the moment of intent

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The Bigger Picture: The Future of Paid Media Is Getting Smarter

This isn’t just about one new ad format - it’s about a fundamental shift in how advertising works.

AI isn’t just delivering ads anymore; it’s starting to plan, buy, optimise, and measure them on its own.

Here’s what’s likely coming:

• Conversational ad formats built for AI interfaces
• Real time creative and budget optimisation
• Deeper personalisation powered by first party data
• Smarter attribution based on engagement, not just clicks

In short: paid media is about to get way more intelligent, contextual, and automated.

And brands that adapt early? They’ll have a massive head start.

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What Marketers Should Be Doing Right Now

ChatGPT ads aren’t live yet, but the writing’s on the wall. OpenAI is laying the groundwork, and when the switch flips, it’ll be a race for early access.

Here’s how to get ahead:

1. Audit your AI readiness. Are your campaigns built for automation and real time optimisation?
2. Experiment with conversational formats. Try Google’s Performance Max or Meta’s Advantage+ to see how AI interprets intent.
3. Strengthen your data foundations. Clean, structured data helps AI platforms learn faster and deliver better results.

At Gambit Agency, we’re already helping brands stay ahead, using AI to plan smarter campaigns and rethink how success is measured as digital tracking evolves.

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The Bottom Line

OpenAI’s move into advertising could be the biggest disruption since TikTok.

If ChatGPT becomes a paid media platform, we’ll enter an era where ads are adaptive, conversational, and genuinely useful - not intrusive.

The marketers who pair smart media strategy with AI innovation will be the ones who win.

Ready to future proof your paid media strategy?
Let’s chat about how to prepare your campaigns for the next generation of AI driven advertising.

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