Eseandre Mordi
⬤ The newest beta version of ChatGPT's Android app includes code hinting at an ads system coming soon. Version 1.2025.329 contains internal strings pointing to ad-related components, which means OpenAI might be testing a new way to make money from its mobile app.
⬤ The beta includes identifiers like "SearchAd", "SearchAdsCarousel", "BazaarContentWrapper", and "ApiSearchAd", along with several targeting objects. This suggests the app could support different ad formats, from simple search ads to more complex carousel-style placements. While OpenAI hasn't confirmed anything, these modules appearing in a production-ready build point to early integration work. The timing makes sense given OpenAI's recent focus on expanding revenue through premium features and enterprise services, and advertising could become another piece of that puzzle.
⬤ Adding ads to ChatGPT's mobile experience would mark a real shift in how the app makes money. The structured modules like "ApiEncodedAdData" and "AdTargetType" suggest OpenAI is testing targeted ad delivery, though exactly how it'll work remains unclear. If launched, these features could work similarly to ad placements in other major mobile platforms, letting brands show content directly within AI conversations. The "bazaar content" references might point to curated or marketplace-style promotional formats.
⬤ This discovery matters because it signals a potential major change in OpenAI's product direction. Bringing ads into ChatGPT could reshape how users interact with the app and create new competitive pressure against Google, Meta, and other companies that already blend AI with large-scale advertising. Whether ads actually become a permanent feature is still unknown, but the beta code shows OpenAI is seriously considering it.
Eseandre Mordi
