Without conversion rate data, the asking price is comparable to the "American Spring Festival Gala," OpenAI's advertising price for ChatGPT is astonishing

Wallstreetcn
2026.01.27 03:10
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OpenAI has set a pricing target of approximately $60 per thousand impressions for its first batch of advertisements, while the cost on Meta Platforms is typically below $20. Industry insiders believe that such a high advertising price, in the absence of effectiveness validation, may lead some potential advertisers to adopt a cautious attitude. This strategy will test the market's recognition of the advertising value of ChatGPT and the willingness of advertisers to invest in emerging AI platforms

According to a report by The Information on Tuesday, OpenAI is offering astonishing prices for advertising slots on its ChatGPT platform, despite the company not providing any conversion rate data to potential advertisers.

Insiders reveal that the AI giant's pricing strategy for advertising slots is extremely aggressive, with asking prices comparable to the most expensive advertising slots in the United States.

This pricing strategy highlights OpenAI's high confidence in the advertising value of its platform. ChatGPT has a large user base and a highly engaged audience, which gives the company an advantageous position in negotiations with advertisers. However, the lack of key conversion rate data may pose a significant barrier to advertisers' decision-making.

Industry insiders point out that such high advertising pricing, in the absence of performance validation, may lead some potential advertisers to adopt a cautious attitude. This strategy will test the market's recognition of ChatGPT's advertising value and advertisers' willingness to invest in emerging AI platforms.

Aggressive Pricing Strategy, Lack of Data Support

According to The Information, OpenAI has adopted a highly aggressive pricing strategy in promoting its ChatGPT advertising business. According to advertising buyers, OpenAI has set a pricing target of about $60 per thousand impressions for its initial ads, which will appear below the responses in ChatGPT.

Analysts note that the company's asking price for advertising slots is comparable to top advertising slots such as the Super Bowl in the United States. In contrast, the cost per thousand impressions on Meta platforms is typically below $20.

However, unlike traditional high-priced advertising platforms, OpenAI has not yet provided any conversion rate data to potential advertisers. This means that advertisers lack key performance metrics when assessing return on investment. For marketers accustomed to data-driven decision-making, this information gap may pose a significant challenge.

Insiders reveal that despite the high pricing and lack of data support, OpenAI is still actively advancing its early layout of the advertising business. The company seems to be relying on the brand influence and user scale of ChatGPT to attract its first batch of advertisers.

Clear Platform Advantages, But Risks Remain

As one of the most popular AI applications globally, ChatGPT boasts hundreds of millions of users and extremely high user engagement. This vast user base provides a solid foundation for the advertising business. The high-frequency interactions and long dwell times of users on the platform theoretically offer quality exposure opportunities for advertisers.

From the perspective of audience quality, ChatGPT users typically possess high technical literacy and purchasing power, which is attractive to certain types of advertisers. The platform's conversational interaction characteristics also provide possibilities for innovation in advertising formats.

However, the lack of conversion rate data means that advertisers cannot accurately assess advertising effectiveness. In the digital advertising industry, key metrics such as conversion rates and click-through rates are core criteria for measuring advertising return on investment. Without this data, advertisers find it difficult to effectively compare ChatGPT ads with other channels

Market Reaction Will Be a Key Test

Whether OpenAI's high pricing strategy can succeed will depend on the actual market response. The experiences and feedback from early adopters will significantly influence the decisions of subsequent advertisers. If the first batch of advertisers can achieve good results, even at a high price, it may attract more brands to follow suit.

Conversely, if the advertising effects fall short of expectations, or if conversion rate data ultimately shows a low return on investment, it may force OpenAI to adjust its pricing strategy. In this case, the company may need to seek a new balance between price and data transparency.

Industry analysts believe that OpenAI's move reflects a new stage in the commercialization exploration of AI platforms. As AI applications become increasingly widespread, how to achieve commercial monetization while maintaining user experience has become a common challenge faced by the industry. The advertising practices of ChatGPT will provide important references for the entire industry