You may have seen headlines about ChatGPT introducing ads. The important thing is not the headline itself, but understanding what is actually happening and what is not.
ChatGPT has announced ads, but they are not widely live yet. More importantly, this does not mean businesses can buy “ChatGPT ads” the way they buy Google or Meta ads.
What is actually changing
OpenAI has announced it will begin testing ads for free and low-cost users in the United States. These ads will be clearly labeled and are expected to appear below AI responses, not inside them.
According to OpenAI’s own documentation, ads are not currently visible to most users. Testing will roll out in stages, and paid tiers such as Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise are expected to remain ad-free.
There is no bidding system, no keyword targeting, and no way to pay for placement inside AI answers.
What this is not
This is not a replacement for SEO, PPC, or GEO. It is not a new Google Ads platform. It is simply OpenAI beginning to monetize attention for free users.
Why this still matters
Every major platform follows a similar arc.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, early SEO adopters ranked easily and captured durable visibility before competition exploded.
In the early days of Google Ads and Facebook Ads, costs were low and performance was high. Those advantages disappeared as more advertisers entered the market.
The lesson is consistent. Early positioning creates leverage.
Where AEO fits in
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is about earning organic visibility inside AI-generated answers.
When users ask ChatGPT for recommendations, comparisons, or best options, the system pulls from brands it already understands and trusts across content, reviews, structured data, and authoritative sources.
When a brand is mentioned naturally inside an AI answer, that is high-trust, high-intent visibility. It is not paid, and it strongly influences decisions.
This is already happening today.
The strategic takeaway
ChatGPT ads and AEO are fundamentally different.
Ads monetize attention later.
AEO determines who the answers already trust.
The opportunity right now is not buying ads. It is becoming the default answer before ads even matter.
What we are doing next
As ChatGPT ad testing officially begins, we plan to open a limited AEO and AI-visibility beta.
We will work with 10 companies only at first, refine the process, and then scale.
If you would like to be considered, join the waitlist. There is no obligation. This simply ensures you are contacted when the beta officially opens.
