June, 5th June 2026

Not too long ago, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, called advertising a "momentary industry."

That was in 2024.

Now, in May 2026, OpenAI is projecting $2.5 billion in ad revenue from ChatGPT. And this month, they just opened the doors to every business, regardless of budget size.

Yeah. Things move fast in AI.

Here's what happened, why it matters, and what you should be thinking about as an ecommerce brand owner.

What Changed

When ChatGPT first launched its advertising pilot in February 2026, the minimum spend to get in was $200,000. That dropped to $50,000 in April. 

This month, OpenAI removed the minimum entirely.

You can spend whatever amount you want to for your brand and test the platform on your own terms. 

On top of that, OpenAI has switched on cost-per-action ads, meaning you only pay when a user actually takes an action. A click. A sign-up. A purchase. Not just when someone sees your ad.

The pricing model has also changed. Cost-per-click bids are now between $3 and $5. For context, the CPM (what advertisers paid per thousand impressions) started at $60 when the platform launched and has already dropped to around $25 in just ten weeks. That's a fast decline, and also an opportunity for your brand.

The platform has also expanded beyond the US; it's now live in the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea.

Why This Is a Big Deal for Ecommerce Brands

Think about where your customer is right now.

They're not just scrolling Instagram or searching Google. They're asking ChatGPT. "What's the best vitamin C serum for sensitive skin?" "Which protein powder should I buy?" "What should I wear to a summer wedding?" 

Millions of people are using AI to make buying decisions every single day, and until now, brands have had no direct way to show up in those conversations.

That's changing.

Advertising inside ChatGPT means your brand can appear at the moment a potential customer is actively looking for what you sell. And the cost-per-action model makes this even better for ecommerce brands, because you're not paying for visibility, you're paying for results. Clicks. Sign-ups. Purchases.

The Conversation You Need to Hear

The CPM dropping from $60 to $25 in ten weeks tells you that OpenAI is filling ad inventory faster than advertisers are rushing to pay premium rates. 

There's also the user experience question. Right now, ChatGPT is ad-free for paying subscribers. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education users don't see ads. 

Ads currently appear for free and Go tier users. And like any new channel, the brands that learn fast and build knowledge while costs are still low will be in the strongest position when the platform matures and competition increases.

We're Here to Help

Changes like this are exactly what we track at Pro Marketer, so you don't have to spend your days reading trade publications.

Our job is to spot what's relevant for ecommerce brands and turn it into a strategy that helps scale your brand.

If you're ready to talk about building an AI-driven growth strategy for your brand, let's have that conversation.

We're helping ecommerce brands 3X their revenue with AI, and the window to get ahead is still open.

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P.S. Got a question, trend, or idea you want me to cover in the next newsletter? Hit reply, I'm all ears!