This is in line with what OpenAI told Mashable when it launched ChatGPT Search at the end of October. When asked whether the company planned on introducing ads to the AI-powered search engine, a spokesperson said, "we don’t have any plans for ads."

Explore whether OpenAI's teacher’s guide can truly address educators' skepticism about using ChatGPT for teachers in the classroom.

OpenAI's potential plan to incorporate ads in products like ChatGP is hardly surprising — but should still serve as a wake-up call for AI makers and users. Why it matters: AI chatbots cost a fortune to run and remain available for free.

OpenAI, the company responsible for ChatGPT, is reportedly playing around with the potential of introducing advertising as a new revenue stream for its AI tool. If it went forward with this plan, it would be a complete reversal from its initial premise for one of the world’s most valuable AI companies.