OpenAI’s CFO defends the introduction of ads to ChatGPT, calling it a “robust business model.”

OpenAI executive recently defended the introduction of ads into ChatGPT, saying it is a way to make artificial intelligence more accessible. On Wednesday, January 21, OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the company needs “to build a robust business model” in order to achieve its goal of bringing AI technology to a larger population. She stated: > Our mission is to make AGI benefit all of humanity, not just those who can afford it. AGI refers to “artificial general intelligence,” a theoretical future AI technology capable of matching or even surpassing human capabilities. Industry Benchmark Shift Raises Concerns OpenAI announced last week that it would begin testing targeted ads for some U.S. users on the free version of ChatGPT. Up until then, the chatbot’s service model was either free or subscription-based. For OpenAI, introducing ads is a milestone decision. The industry faces high costs for computing power, personnel, and infrastructure, and company executives are under pressure to prove the soundness of its ambitious strategies as well as its status as one of the world’s highest-valued private companies. Earlier this week, the company stated that its annualized revenue had reached $2 billion in 2025. On Tuesday in Davos, Demis Hassabis, CEO of competing Google DeepMind, commented in a speech that it was “interesting” for OpenAI to adopt this model so early. In response to questions about timing on Wednesday, Friar said: > The word ‘early’ is a bit odd. For an advertising model, you need to reach a certain scale—if your scale is too small, an ad model doesn’t work; that would be truly early. When you have 800 million weekly active users, you have already far surpassed many companies that began with this model. Risk warning and disclaimer The market involves risks and investments should be made with caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the special investment objectives, financial situation or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific circumstances. You are solely responsible for any investment decisions made based on this information.