ChatGPT Ads Beta: OpenAI Sets a $200K Minimum Buy-In

ChatGPT is moving from “where people ask questions” to “where budgets get allocated.” And for B2B marketers, this matters now because the moment ads enter an answer engine, you’re no longer just competing for clicks—you’re competing for presence inside the response layer.

OpenAI is signaling that this won’t be a casual test with $5K experiments. The early gates are high, the measurement sounds limited, and the brands that learn the mechanics first will shape what “performance” even means in ChatGPT.

What happened (and what OpenAI confirmed)

OpenAI is rolling out (or preparing to roll out) beta ads on ChatGPT. MediaGazer summarized OpenAI’s position clearly: “OpenAI says it is asking select advertisers to commit at least $200K as it rolls out beta ads on ChatGPT.” (MediaGazer)

Adweek added more detail and timing, reporting: “EXCLUSIVE: OpenAI Confirms $200,000 Minimum Commitment for ChatGPT Ads — For some brands, ad testing starts as early as February 6.” (Adweek)

This isn’t just a pricing headline—it’s a signal about who OpenAI wants in the room first: larger advertisers that can fund meaningful tests and tolerate ambiguity.

There’s also important context on where ads may appear. BleepingComputer reports: “OpenAI previously confirmed that it's testing ads in ChatGPT for free and $8 Go accounts.” (BleepingComputer)

And measurement? TechRadar reports ChatGPT ads will be “offering impression data only.” (TechRadar)

That combination—high minimum commitment + broad consumer surface area (Free and $8 Go) + impression-only reporting—should shape how you think about this beta.

What this means for B2B marketers (especially media buyers)

1) This is a premium, controlled beta—not an open marketplace

A $200,000 minimum commitment (MediaGazer; Adweek) is a deliberate filter. If you’re used to testing new channels with small budgets and rapid iteration, this is the opposite. OpenAI appears to be setting the expectation that early participation is for serious, well-resourced advertisers.

For B2B, that likely means: you don’t “dabble” in ChatGPT ads. You either commit to learning it properly, or you focus on other ways to win visibility in answer engines.

2) Expect brand-style measurement first, not direct-response proof

TechRadar’s “impression data only” detail matters (TechRadar). If the beta truly limits reporting to impressions, you should assume you’ll have a harder time proving pipeline impact using the platform’s native metrics.

That doesn’t make the channel useless. It changes what “success” looks like in the early days:

• Share of presence in high-intent conversational moments
• Message learning (what positioning gets surfaced and remembered)
• Lift in downstream demand signals you measure outside the platform

But you should plan for internal skepticism—because impression-only reporting doesn’t satisfy most performance expectations.

3) The surface area could be big—and not just “enterprise users”

BleepingComputer’s note that OpenAI previously confirmed testing ads for Free and $8 Go accounts suggests the audience isn’t limited to paid, enterprise, or high-intent business contexts (BleepingComputer). For B2B, that’s a double-edged sword:

• Pros: reach can be meaningful; you may influence early-stage consideration.
• Cons: you may pay premium beta pricing while ads appear in broader consumer usage contexts.

Your targeting and creative strategy will need to assume mixed intent unless OpenAI provides guardrails (which are not described in the verified claims).

4) Answer engines are becoming paid media environments—and that changes AEO

Once ads arrive in ChatGPT (MediaGazer; Adweek), the competitive set for attention expands. You’re not only competing against organic mentions in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Copilot, Perplexity, Brave, and Meta AI—you’re also competing against whoever pays for placement in at least one of those environments.

In practical terms: AEO and paid media are converging. The teams that treat “answer visibility” as a cross-functional problem (content + PR + paid + measurement) will adapt faster.

What to do right now

1) Decide if you’re a realistic beta candidate

If OpenAI is asking select advertisers for at least a $200K commitment (MediaGazer; Adweek), treat this like a strategic bet, not a channel test.

Ask:

• Do you have the budget tolerance to learn without full-funnel attribution (TechRadar)?
• Do you have strong creative and messaging hypotheses you want to pressure-test in conversational contexts?
• Can you run a parallel measurement plan outside ChatGPT to judge impact?

If the answer is “no,” don’t force it. Put your energy into organic answer engine visibility.

2) Build a measurement plan that doesn’t rely on platform reporting

If the beta is “offering impression data only” (TechRadar), you need a plan that stands up in a B2B environment where leadership expects pipeline linkage.

What you can do immediately (without assuming any additional ChatGPT reporting features):

• Align on what impressions mean for your business (awareness, consideration, category entry).
• Set up pre/post tracking around brand and product demand signals you already measure.
• Define success thresholds that fit an early, impression-led channel.

The point is to avoid the trap of spending $200K and then arguing about what you bought.

3) Prepare creative that works in an “answer-first” environment

Even without details on formats (not included in the verified claims), the context is clear: ads are entering ChatGPT as it rolls out beta ads (MediaGazer). You should assume the user is there to get an answer.

So your creative strategy should prioritize:

• Clarity: one idea, one promise
• Relevance: align to the question being asked
• Credibility: simple proof points and concrete outcomes

This is less like social interruption and more like being the “sponsored” option near a decision moment.

4) Double down on AEO across answer engines—paid or not

ChatGPT ads are the headline, but the broader shift is that answer engines are where decisions get shaped. Keep pressure on organic visibility in:

• ChatGPT
• Google AI Overviews
• Copilot
• Perplexity
• Brave
• Meta AI

If you’re not buying the beta, your edge comes from being the source that models trust and reuse when generating answers.

Bottom line

OpenAI has confirmed a $200,000 minimum commitment for select advertisers as it rolls out beta ads on ChatGPT, with some brands potentially testing as early as February 6. (MediaGazer; Adweek) If TechRadar’s report that ads will offer impression data only holds, you should treat this as a premium awareness-and-learning play—not a performance channel—while you strengthen your AEO foundation across every major answer engine. (TechRadar)