ChatGPT Ad Testing Progresses Slowly; Some Brands Fear Unused Budgets by Month-End

When OpenAI announced the introduction of ads in ChatGPT, U.S. advertising agencies were eager to explore AI advertising strategies. However, anonymous sources reveal that ChatGPT's ad testing progress is slow, failing to meet initial expectations, and OpenAI's conservative strategy has dissatisfied partners. Some brands invested $200,000-$250,000 (about 1.381 million-1.726 million RMB), twice the usual experimental ad budget.

The pilot project runs until the end of March. Some brands worry about unused budgets—though unspent funds can be returned, the budget is locked this quarter and cannot be redirected to other channels, and advertisers haven't gotten the expected data insights. OpenAI responded that ChatGPT ads are still in early testing, aiming to optimize user experience before large-scale rollout. Positive signals from users and clients have been received, and advertisers' interest remains strong.