User on X reports first ad appearing in live ChatGPT conversation
For years, ChatGPT has felt like a quiet corner of the internet—no banners, no pop‑ups, just a stream of AI‑generated text. That clean experience has been part of the service’s appeal, especially for professionals and hobbyists who rely on it for research, drafting, or casual conversation. Yet a recent post on X suggests that the platform may be testing a new revenue stream, slipping a promotional card into the middle of an active dialogue.
The user claims the ad appeared while he was discussing “Elon on Nikhil’s podcast,” and the copy read, “Find a fitness class, Connect Peloton.” If accurate, this would be the first documented instance of a live‑chat interruption, raising questions about how OpenAI might balance monetization with the user experience that made the tool popular in the first place. The post has sparked a flurry of reactions, with some users expressing surprise and others demanding clarification. Below is the original X post that sparked the conversation.
Now, a user on X, shared that he was already seeing ads inside a live ChatGPT conversation. According to the X post, an unexpected promotional card appeared while he was chatting about 'Elon on Nikhil's podcast.' The ad reportedly read: "Find a fitness class, Connect Peloton." The user insisted that the ad should have been at least relevant to the conversation he was having. Some users pointed out that if this is going to happen across the platform, OpenAI should consider reducing pricing for the paid tiers.
These reports arrive shortly after OpenAI launched Shopping Research, a feature that turns ChatGPT into a personalised product advisor powered by a specialised version of GPT-5 mini. The tool helps users research items, compare options and generate buying guides by pulling from high-quality retail sources. At launch, OpenAI emphasised that product listings were not sponsored, user chats were not shared with retailers, and merchants had no influence over rankings.
The shopping feature was framed as an organic, utility-focused upgrade to ChatGPT's capabilities. The sudden appearance of ad-related code and user-reported ads now raises new questions about OpenAI's monetisation strategy. It remains unclear whether these ads are part of a controlled experiment, an early rollout, or linked to the shopping feature that OpenAI said would remain unsponsored.
Did OpenAI intend to monetize ChatGPT this way? The first public glimpse of an ad appeared in a live conversation, a promotional card for a Peloton fitness class that surfaced while a user discussed Elon on Nikhil’s podcast. Earlier, software engineer Tibor Blaho flagged references to an “ads feature” in the Android beta (version 1.2025.329), citing terms like “bazaar content,” “search ad,” and “search ads carousel.” Those code clues suggested an internal plan, but the user’s report is the first concrete instance of an ad reaching a consumer.
Whether the placement is part of a broader test, a limited rollout, or an isolated glitch remains unclear. OpenAI has not issued a statement confirming or denying an advertising program. The juxtaposition of code‑level hints and a visible promotional card underscores a shift from pure conversational AI toward potential commercial integration.
Until further evidence emerges, observers must treat the development with cautious scrutiny.
Further Reading
- Code suggests that OpenAI may be close to introducing ads for ChatGPT - Engadget
- ChatGPT Ads Could Change Digital Marketing Forever - The Marketing Eye
- ChatGPT ads are coming – and they won't look like Google Ads - Search Engine Land
- Leak confirms OpenAI is preparing ads on ChatGPT for public roll out - Hacker News
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Common Questions Answered
What promotional card appeared in the live ChatGPT conversation according to the user on X?
The ad was a promotional card for a Peloton fitness class that read "Find a fitness class, Connect Peloton." It surfaced in the middle of an active ChatGPT dialogue, marking the first public glimpse of an ad within the service.
During which discussion did the ChatGPT ad appear, as mentioned in the X post?
The user reported that the ad appeared while he was chatting about "Elon on Nikhil's podcast." The conversation topic was unrelated to fitness, prompting criticism that the ad lacked contextual relevance.
What code clues did software engineer Tibor Blaho uncover that hinted at an upcoming ads feature in ChatGPT?
Blaho identified references to "bazaar content," "search ad," and "search ads carousel" in the Android beta version 1.2025.329. These terms suggested that OpenAI was internally preparing a system to display advertisements within the app.
How have users responded to the relevance and potential monetization of ads in ChatGPT?
Several users argued that any promotional card should be at least relevant to the ongoing conversation, expressing concern over intrusive monetization. Others warned that widespread ad placement could diminish the clean, ad‑free experience that many rely on for research and casual use.