The first batch of brands that placed ads on ChatGPT could not confirm the effectiveness of the advertisements.

For OpenAI and its investors, the success of the advertising business is the key way for the company to achieve profit from a large number of non-paying users. As of the end of February, OpenAI has approximately 920 million weekly active users; data from July last year showed that only about 5% of weekly active users were paying users. The company launched its first batch of advertising tests in early February, showing ads only to free and low-cost version ChatGPT users in the United States, with a limited number of partner advertisers. In the first round of testing, OpenAI priced ads at $60 per thousand impressions, equivalent to high-value ad placements like live broadcasts of the American football league. Advertisers are required to commit to a minimum single advertising spend of $200,000 before placing ads. OpenAI has not yet provided any automated channels for advertisers to purchase ad space. According to a senior advertising industry executive, advertisers can only contact OpenAI personnel through phone calls, forms, and emails to complete their purchases. More importantly, advertisers find it difficult to determine if advertising with OpenAI is cost-effective. Part of the reason is that OpenAI only provides advertisers with data on ad impressions and clicks, with almost no other information. This is in stark contrast to mature digital media companies and advertising technology platforms - the latter will clearly show advertisers the types of audiences targeted by the ads, and whether the ads are actually driving business conversions.