On October 5, 2026, OpenAI revealed a new ad format: an ad that appears right as ChatGPT generates an image from a user's prompt. ChatGPT has 1.2 billion weekly users, and even with an audience this massive, the company confidently places ads in its own product. If it's fine for the world's most valuable AI company, it's fine for you and your 300-follower account.
This article isn't about how to buy ads on ChatGPT (you can't do it from Russia anyway). It's about the takeaway from this news: anyone with an audience, no matter how small, has ad space to sell. Audience size is a matter of price, not permission.
What OpenAI Did: The Facts
Before: Ads in ChatGPT appeared as a card below a finished response—for example, a grocery delivery ad under a recipe. Now: An image-based format has been added. While the model generates an image, a brand's ad is displayed alongside it.
| Parameter | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Date Announced | October 5, 2026 |
| Availability | In testing since October, US only, limited group of advertisers |
| ChatGPT Ads Overall | Over 60 countries; Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan are not on the list |
| Plans with Ads | Free and Go. The Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans are ad-free |
| Who Sees Them | Only logged-in adult users |
| ChatGPT's Weekly Audience | 1.2 billion people (OpenAI's figure) |
OpenAI made three promises regarding the new format: the ad is labeled as such, it stands alone and is not embedded in the generated image, and it does not influence the model's responses. This last claim cannot be independently verified yet; it is a statement from the platform.
Along with the new format, OpenAI expanded its measurement capabilities: the number of analytics partners grew to 22, negative keywords were introduced for "qualified" advertisers, a customizable attribution window was added, and conversion data quality is now assessed. In simple terms, brands can now see which purchases came directly from the chat.
How Fast It Grew
What's remarkable here isn't just the news itself, but the speed.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 9, 2026 | Ads launched in ChatGPT with a $60 CPM |
| April 2026 | CPM dropped to around $25 |
| May 5, 2026 | A self-serve ad platform launched |
| August 31, 2026 | Annual revenue run rate reached $1 billion in less than 200 days |
| October 5, 2026 | Image-based format and 22 analytics partners announced |
Eight months ago, there were no ads in ChatGPT. Now, it's a channel with a billion-dollar revenue run rate. A beloved product starts selling space within itself—that's how all platforms work, from television to AI chatbots.
Why This Is About You, Not OpenAI
The most common roadblock for a new creator is the thought: "It's too soon for me. I only have 200–300 followers. Who would pay me for anything?" Look at this news as the answer.
- No one waits for the "perfect moment." OpenAI put ads in a product that had yet to turn a profit and that people use for free every day. The platform didn't wait until it was "big enough."
- Ads don't ruin a product if they're clearly labeled. OpenAI's entire announcement is about this: a label, a separate space, and no interference with the response. The same principle applies to your account: viewers aren't bothered by ads; they're bothered by deception.
- For short-form video, followers aren't the main metric. Reach on TikTok, Shorts, and Reels comes from recommendations, not your follower base. A video from an account with 300 followers can get 2,000 views or 200,000. Brands pay for views, not the number in your profile.
What Brands Actually Count
This is the key. In 2026, the mindset of major advertisers shifted from "buy a post from a big influencer" to "pay for measurable results." OpenAI's announcement is a perfect example: the 22 analytics partners are there to count purchases, not just impressions.
For a small account, this is great news. When you're paid for results, you don't need to qualify based on audience size. You simply publish a video, and your reward is calculated based on the views it gets.
Here are the typical CPV rates by format, based on figures from briefs on our platform (as of their publication dates):
| Format | What You Do | Reward Rate (per 1,000 views) |
|---|---|---|
| Banner Over Your Video | Film anything on your topic, place the client's banner on top | From $0.08 |
| Clipping Shows & Streams | Cut approved source material into vertical clips | Around $0.20 |
| Ready-Made Video | Publish a video provided by the brand | $0.70–$1.00 |
| Custom UGC | Shoot your own video based on a brand's brief | $2.00–$3.00 |
Let's do the math honestly, without rose-colored glasses. An account with 300 followers posting five videos a week that average 3,000 views each gets 15,000 weekly views. With a banner, you'd make about $1.20 a week; with custom UGC, around $30–$45. It's not a salary. But it's your first earnings, the first numbers for your portfolio, and an understanding of which formats work for you. A single hit video with 200,000 views changes the calculation instantly.
How a Small Account Can Get Started: 5 Steps
- Count views, not followers. Take your last 10 videos and find the median view count. This is your baseline figure for clients—it's what they'll multiply by the rate.
- Choose a format where audience size doesn't matter. With banners, ready-made videos, clipping, and UGC briefs, payment is based on views, not channel size. Learn more about UGC and how to start here: UGC Creator: What It Is in Simple Terms, How Much You Can Earn, and How to Start with No Experience.
- Accept your first pay-per-view brief. Start with the "banner" format. The video topic is up to you, you don't need to reshoot content for the brand, and you just add the banner during editing. Here's an example of such a brief: New Banner Brief: $0.08 per 1,000 Views, Any Video Topic.
- Label your ads. Do what OpenAI does: add a label. In the video, use the "paid partnership" toggle or add a note in the description. In Russia, internet advertising also requires specific labeling: an "advertisement" tag, advertiser information, and registration of the creative through an advertising data operator (ORD). Usually, the client or the platform handles this—ask in advance who is responsible for it in your brief.
- Track and show your results. Use screenshots of view counts, click-through numbers, promo codes, or UTM tags. A client accustomed to purchase attribution will ask, "How many conversions did we get?" not "How many followers do you have?" Creators who have these numbers ready get the next brief. If you don't have access to platform monetization, other pay-per-view options are covered here: How to Earn on TikTok, Shorts, and Reels in Russia in 2026 Without Monetization.
What This Means for Brands
AI chat is no longer an experimental ad channel: it has a dashboard, analytics, and attribution. While there's no direct access from CIS countries, the "pay for results" model is available right now through creator briefs with pay-per-view rewards. And yes, creators with small accounts work perfectly well in this model, since you pay for views, not profile size.
What's Still Unknown
It's also worth noting what OpenAI didn't clarify:
- The advertisers participating in the test were not named.
- It wasn't specified how many ads a user will see during a single image generation.
- There is no separate pricing for the image-based format; only the general CPM pricing is known.
- It hasn't been announced when or if the format will be released outside the US.
- There is no independent verification of the main promise that ads do not influence the model's responses.
The official announcement page on openai.com was not accessible from our location at the time of writing, so all figures here have been cross-referenced with three sources: Search Engine Land, ppc.land, and unite.ai. If OpenAI provides more details, we will update this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make money from ads with 300 followers?
Yes, if you're paid for views, not a flat placement fee. In formats like banners, ready-made videos, clipping, and UGC briefs, audience size isn't a barrier. You're paid based on the views a specific video gets.
How many followers do you need to run ads?
For pay-per-view models, there's no formal threshold. For direct "per-post" deals with a brand, a threshold often exists because the brand is paying for your established name. That's why it's easier to start by getting paid for views.
How much is paid per 1,000 views?
Based on the briefs we've reviewed, the rate ranges from about $0.08 for a banner over your own video to $2–$3 for a custom video based on a brand's brief. The specific rate depends on the brief, topic, and audience country.
Do I need to label ads in my videos?
Yes. Platforms have a paid partnership toggle for this. In Russia, internet advertising has separate labeling requirements: an "advertisement" tag, advertiser details, and creative registration via an ORD. Check with the client to see who handles this for your brief.
Will ChatGPT ads be available in Russia?
Russia is not on the published lists of countries where ChatGPT ads are available. You cannot buy them directly from Russia.
On Prime Oracles, brands post briefs, and creators accept them to get paid for views—account size doesn't affect access. Open briefs are located in the "Content Rewards" section. You can accept any brief with the "Accept Brief" button or post your own via "Create Campaign".