OpenAI Launches Ad Testing Alongside Apple's Evolving AI Strategy

OpenAI is set to begin testing advertisements on its ChatGPT platform for free and Go tier users in the United States within the coming weeks. These ads will appear as clearly labeled sponsored cards at the bottom of the chatbot's responses, designed not to influence the content of ChatGPT's answers. OpenAI emphasizes its commitment to user privacy, stating it will never sell user data to advertisers and will not display ads to users under 18 or near sensitive topics like health or politics. Paid subscribers, including Plus, Pro, and Enterprise users, will continue to experience an ad-free service. This move aims to help OpenAI monetize its extensive user base, which includes over 800 million free users, and to offset the significant operational costs associated with running its AI services. While OpenAI reported earning $13 billion last year and anticipates tripling that figure, a substantial portion of this revenue goes towards cloud services and data centers. Meanwhile, the broader AI sector sees other significant developments. Yann Le Cun, a prominent figure in AI and formerly Meta's chief scientist for AI, is embarking on a new venture, Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI), with plans to announce details and an estimated Globally, the AI landscape is also seeing notable shifts. China's Zhipu AI, known as Z.ai, successfully trained its GLM-image model entirely using Huawei's hardware, including Ascend Atlas 800T A2 servers and Ascend 910 AI processors, marking a significant step for indigenous AI development. Concurrently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Remote Access Security Act in mid-January 2026, extending AI chip export controls to cover remote access to controlled technologies, including cross-border cloud services. Apple's evolving AI strategy has also become a topic of discussion among financial traders. Regulatory bodies are also increasing their focus on AI. New Mexico's Attorney General Ra In practical applications, AI journalism startup Symbolic.ai has partnered with News Corp to integrate its AI platform with Dow Jones Newswires, aiming to boost productivity for research tasks by up to 90% and enhance editorial work. Furthermore, the increasing use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini for mental health advice is prompting therapists to learn how to analyze these client-AI interactions, recognizing both the potential benefits and inherent risks, such as the possibility of receiving unhelpful or even harmful advice.

Key Takeaways

• OpenAI will test ads on ChatGPT for free and Go users in the U.S. in the coming weeks, with ads appearing at the bottom of answers and clearly labeled.
• OpenAI assures that ads will not influence ChatGPT's responses, user data will remain private, and data will not be sold to advertisers.
• Users can control ad personalization, and ads will not be shown to users under 18 or near sensitive topics.
• OpenAI earned $13 billion last year, and the ad initiative aims to monetize its 800 million+ users and cover high operational costs.
• Yann Le Cun, former chief AI scientist at Meta, is starting his own company, AMI, with an estimated
• China's Zhipu AI (Z.ai) trained its GLM-image model exclusively using Huawei's Ascend hardware, showcasing indigenous AI development.
• New Mexico proposes the Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act (AI2A) to regulate generative AI, requiring content identification and offering free verification tools.
• The Hong Kong SFC warned about an unauthorized "AI-based quantum high-frequency trading" product claiming 3-8% monthly returns, adding it to its alert list on January 16, 2026.
• The U.S. expanded AI chip export controls to include remote access to controlled technologies, impacting cross-border cloud access.
• Therapists are learning to analyze client mental health chats with generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, acknowledging both benefits and risks.

OpenAI will test ads on ChatGPT in the US

OpenAI will start testing ads on ChatGPT in the United States in the coming weeks. These ads will appear at the bottom of the chatbot's answers and will be clearly labeled. Only free and Go users will see the ads, while Plus, Pro, and Enterprise subscribers will not. OpenAI states it will never sell user data and will not show ads to users under 18 or near sensitive topics like politics or health.

OpenAI details plan for ChatGPT ads and access

OpenAI announced its plan to test ads in ChatGPT for free and Go users in the U.S. in the coming weeks, starting January 16, 2026. These ads will appear at the bottom of answers and be clearly labeled, but they will not affect ChatGPT's responses. OpenAI promises to keep user conversations private and never sell data to advertisers. Users can control ad personalization and turn it off if they wish. Ads will not be shown to users under 18 or near sensitive topics like health or politics.

ChatGPT to show ads for free and Go users

OpenAI announced it will begin testing ads in ChatGPT's free and Go tiers in the coming weeks. These ads will appear as clearly labeled sponsored cards within the chat interface, separate from ChatGPT's answers. OpenAI emphasizes that ads will not influence responses and user data will remain private, never sold to advertisers. Users will have control over personalization and can opt for ad-free paid subscriptions. This move aims to monetize ChatGPT's 850 million users and help cover the high costs of running the AI service.

OpenAI details plan for ChatGPT ads and access

OpenAI announced its plan to test ads in ChatGPT for free and Go users in the U.S. in the coming weeks, starting January 16, 2026. These ads will appear at the bottom of answers and be clearly labeled, but they will not affect ChatGPT's responses. OpenAI promises to keep user conversations private and never sell data to advertisers. Users can control ad personalization and turn it off if they wish. Ads will not be shown to users under 18 or near sensitive topics like health or politics.

OpenAI to test ads in ChatGPT free tiers

OpenAI plans to start testing ads in ChatGPT for free users and those on the $8-a-month Go tier in the U.S. Users with Plus, Pro, and Enterprise subscriptions will not see ads. OpenAI states it will not sell user data or share conversations with advertisers, instead using aggregate metrics and matching ads to conversation topics. Users can turn off ad personalization and clear related data. Ads will not appear for users under 18 or near sensitive topics like health or politics.

OpenAI tests ChatGPT ads to boost revenue

OpenAI announced it will begin testing banner ads in the ChatGPT app for some U.S. users in the coming weeks. These ads will appear for free users and those on the new $8 per month Go tier, but not for Plus, Pro, Business, or Enterprise subscribers. The ads will be clearly labeled and placed at the bottom of answers, separate from the main conversation. This move aims to diversify revenue as OpenAI faces significant financial pressures, with the company not expecting to be profitable until 2030. OpenAI assures users that ads will not influence ChatGPT's responses.

OpenAI launches Go tier and tests ads in US

OpenAI is bringing a new $8 per month Go subscription tier to the U.S. and other regions, offering expanded access to messaging, image creation, file uploads, and memory. The company also plans to start testing ads in the U.S. for its free and Go tiers within weeks. OpenAI assures users that ads will be clearly labeled and separate from ChatGPT's responses, which will not be influenced by advertising. User data and conversations will remain private and never sold to advertisers. Paid Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscriptions will remain ad-free.

OpenAI begins testing ads in ChatGPT

OpenAI is starting to test ads within ChatGPT, a move expected to increase revenue for the popular chatbot. While OpenAI earned $13 billion last year and expects to triple that, much of the money goes to cloud services and data centers. Ads on the free version will help cover these costs. OpenAI states that ads will not change ChatGPT's answers or influence its content, ensuring responses remain objectively useful. The company will not sell personal data or conversations, and users can turn off ad personalization.

OpenAI begins testing ads in ChatGPT

OpenAI is starting to test ads within ChatGPT, a move expected to increase revenue for the popular chatbot. While OpenAI earned $13 billion last year and expects to triple that, much of the money goes to cloud services and data centers. Ads on the free version will help cover these costs. OpenAI states that ads will not change ChatGPT's answers or influence its content, ensuring responses remain objectively useful. The company will not sell personal data or conversations, and users can turn off ad personalization.

OpenAI to introduce ads for free ChatGPT users

OpenAI plans to start showing ads to ChatGPT users who do not pay for a premium version in the coming weeks. The San Francisco-based company aims to monetize its over 800 million users, most of whom use the free service. Despite being valued at $500 billion, OpenAI currently loses money and seeks ways to become profitable. Digital ads will appear at the bottom of ChatGPT's answers when a relevant sponsored product or service is found, and they will be clearly labeled and separate from the main response.

Hong Kong warns of suspicious AI investment product

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) warned the public about a suspicious AI-themed investment product. Gold Fun Corporation Limited and Angel Guardian Alliance Technology Limited (AGA) offered this product, which claims to use "AI-based quantum high-frequency trading" for 3% to 8% monthly returns with low risk. The SFC has not authorized this product for public offering in Hong Kong, and it may violate the Securities and Futures Ordinance. Reports indicate investors are having trouble withdrawing money. The SFC added it to its Suspicious Investment Products Alert List on January 16, 2026, and advises against investing in unauthorized products.

Hong Kong warns public about "quantum" AI trading scam

Hong Kong's securities regulator, the SFC, issued a warning about an unauthorized "quantum" high-frequency AI trading product. This product, marketed to the public, claims to use "AI-based quantum high-frequency trading" to generate 3% to 8% monthly returns with little to no risk. The SFC has received complaints from investors struggling to withdraw their money. The regulator added the product to its Suspicious Investment Products Alert List on January 16, 2026, and advises the public to be careful and avoid investing in unauthorized schemes.

Agentic AI startup Parloa secures major funding

Parloa, an agentic AI startup, recently secured a significant amount of venture capital funding. This "big raise" highlights the growing promise and investment interest in companies developing advanced AI bots. The funding will likely help Parloa further develop its agentic AI technologies.

China's Z.ai trains AI model with only Huawei tech

China's Zhipu AI, also known as Z.ai, announced it trained a new model called GLM-image using only Huawei hardware. The company claims this is the first time an advanced AI model has been built entirely on Chinese technology. Z.ai used Huawei's Ascend Atlas 800T A2 servers and Ascend 910 AI processors for the entire training process. While Z.ai has not shared details on the number of servers or training speed, this achievement shows that China can develop cutting-edge AI models using its own computing platforms.

New Mexico proposes law to protect against AI harm

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and state Representative Linda Serrato are proposing new legislation called the Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act, or AI2A. This act aims to create rules for generative AI, including synthetic media and deepfakes, to protect people from harm. Key parts of the law include requiring AI-generated content to have identification markers and for providers to offer free tools to verify content. The Attorney General would investigate violations and impose penalties up to $15,000 per offense, with an extra year in prison for using AI to commit a felony.

Yann Le Cun leaves Meta to start new AI company

Yann Le Cun, a top figure in artificial intelligence and former chief scientist for AI at Meta for over 12 years, is starting his own company. The new startup, called AMI or Advanced Machine Intelligence, aims to be a global company. Le Cun, a Turing Award winner, plans to announce more details, including his team and an estimated €500 million in funding, in February.

US expands AI chip controls to cloud access

In mid-January 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Remote Access Security Act, expanding its controls on AI chips and high-performance computing. These new rules mean that U.S. export controls are no longer just about physical hardware. Now, they also cover remote access to controlled technologies, including cross-border cloud access. This change puts China's plans for overseas computing at risk.

Fast Money traders discuss Apple AI strategy change

Traders on the "Fast Money" show recently discussed Apple's change in its artificial intelligence strategy. They reacted to the news and shared their thoughts on what this shift could mean for the company. The discussion focused on the implications of Apple's updated approach to AI.

Symbolic.ai partners with News Corp for AI journalism

AI journalism startup Symbolic.ai has signed a deal with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. News Corp will use Symbolic's AI platform with its financial news hub, Dow Jones Newswires. Symbolic.ai, founded by Devin Wenig and Jon Stokes, claims its platform can help produce quality journalism and boost productivity by up to 90% for research tasks. The tool aims to make editorial work more efficient in areas like newsletter creation, fact-checking, and headline optimization.

Therapists learn to analyze client AI mental health chats

Dr. Lance B. Eliot explains that therapists need to learn how to properly analyze AI chats their clients have about mental health. Many clients are using generative AI tools like ChatGPT, GPT-5, and Gemini for advice and then asking their therapists about it. While some therapists might tell clients to stop using AI, many clients will continue to do so secretly. Therefore, therapists should be willing to review these chats as part of the therapy process, understanding both the benefits and risks of AI in mental health. There are concerns that AI can give bad advice or even encourage harmful thoughts.

Sources

• OpenAI to begin testing ads on ChatGPT in the U.S.
• Our approach to advertising and expanding access to ChatGPT
• OpenAI Announces Users Will Begin Seeing Ads In ChatGPT In The Coming Weeks
• Our approach to advertising and expanding access to ChatGPT
• Ads Are Coming to ChatGPT. Here’s How They’ll Work
• OpenAI to test ads in ChatGPT as it burns through billions
• OpenAI Brings Subscription Tier and Ads to US
• OpenAI Starts Testing Ads in ChatGPT
• OpenAI Starts Testing Ads in ChatGPT
• ChatGPT's Free Ride Is Ending: Here's What OpenAI Plans for Advertising on the Chatbot
• SFC warns of suspicious AI-themed investment product offered by Gold Fun and AGA
• The Trouble With “Quantum” Profits: Hong Kong Pushes Back on High‑Frequency AI Trading
• Parloa's big raise shows bots promise
• China's Z.ai claims it trained a model using only Huawei hardware
• Effort in New Mexico to enact generative AI protections
• Yann Le Cun: 'Why I'm leaving Meta to launch my own AI start-up'
• US extends AI chip controls to cloud access, China's overseas compute plans under risk
• 'Fast Money' traders react to Apple's shift in its AI strategy
• AI journalism startup Symbolic.ai signs deal with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp
• The Right Way For Therapists To Clinically Analyze AI Chats Of Their Clients’ Mental Health Thoughts