ChatGPT opens advertising interface

ChatGPT has introduced an advertising interface, changing how digital marketing operates. This move allows companies to run ads directly within the platform, which has been a major development in the field of artificial intelligence.

French users increasingly rely on generative AI

A study by Ipsos in May 2026 found that 59% of French people used generative AI by early 2026, up from 29% a year earlier. Many now use AI tools weekly, with 20% using it to get information and 18% to compare products.

Search habits shift with AI adoption

According to Ipsos, 85% of the French use search engines daily, with Google having about 46 million unique visitors in France. However, generative AI is becoming a second go-to tool, influencing how people make decisions, with 55% of AI users saying they've made a purchase after consulting AI.

OpenAI launches advertising in multiple countries

OpenAI began testing ads in the U.S. in January 2026 and expanded to other countries throughout the year. The service reached France and 30 other European markets on August 24, 2026, after launching in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Mexico.

ChatGPT's user base and ad exposure

Médiamétrie reports that ChatGPT has about 7.8 million unique daily visitors in France. Globally, only 5.5% of weekly users are subscribed, meaning the majority of users are exposed to ads. Most of these users are on free versions, not professional ones.

Ad format and targeting on ChatGPT

Sponsored content on ChatGPT appears as clearly marked cards under responses. These ads avoid sensitive topics like health or politics and use contextual targeting based on the user’s conversation. OpenAI has also introduced geographic targeting and conversion tracking tools.

Campaign setup and budget requirements

Each ChatGPT ad campaign is designed for one of three goals: awareness, traffic, or conversion. Advertisers need a minimum budget of 15 euros per day. E-commerce companies can upload product data, but the process is still complex and support is limited.

Measuring ad effectiveness remains challenging

Data collection for ad performance is difficult due to low cookie acceptance by users. This challenge comes at a time when Google is introducing AI-based features in France, but its advertising space remains closed to local advertisers.

Impact on search and advertising dynamics

AI-generated answers appear at the top of search results, reducing clicks on traditional listings. In the U.S., AI previews cut click rates by nearly half. Brands mentioned in AI answers see better performance, but the audience for ChatGPT ads is smaller and limited to free users.

Adoption depends on business strategy

For brands and agencies, whether to use ChatGPT Ads depends on their business model and industry. CyberCité is helping advertisers test and optimize campaigns, focusing on cost-effective learning before full-scale investment.