ChatGPT Ads Are Here: What Happens Next?

The way people search is changing fast — and ChatGPT has just made its biggest commercial move yet. After years of speculation, OpenAI has confirmed it's launching ads inside ChatGPT. The initial rollout is US-only, targeting free and "Go" tier accounts, but the implications for every marketing leader are significant. The format is unlike anything we've seen before. The pricing is premium. And the reporting? That's where things get complicated. In this episode, Charlie Marchant (CEO of Exposure Ninja) and Dale Davies (Head of Marketing at Exposure Ninja) break down everything they know: What ChatGPT ads actually look like — format, placement, and why visual creative will matter far more than you'd expect in a text-dominated environment The CPM pricing model that puts ChatGPT ads at roughly three times the cost of a typical Meta ad — and why OpenAI is banking on higher intent to justify that premium Why limited reporting and attribution is a genuine problem for marketers trying to justify spend internally, and who this ad format actually suits right now The organic visibility condition Charlie says must be met before any business considers testing ChatGPT ads — with a real-world example from our work with Riverford Organic What this launch means for Google Ads — and why the two platforms are more complementary than competitive for most advertisers The single most important thing any business can do right now, regardless of whether they ever get access to ChatGPT ads As Charlie explains in the episode: " Being seen in a place where your competitors aren't yet showing up is huge. " But the bigger opportunity — available to every business right now, no invite required — is making sure you're already showing up organically in AI search results. If you're a marketing leader trying to make sense of a rapidly shifting search landscape, this episode gives you a clear picture of where ChatGPT ads fit in your strategy, and what to prioritise first. Follow Charlie Marchant on LinkedIn for the latest in AI Search Optimisation: Request a free marketing review: ⁠ Try Semrush for FREE: Get the show notes: Listen to these episodes next: If My SEO Traffic Dropped, Here’s Exactly What I’d Do (It’s Easy) How To Dominate AI Search Results in 2026 (Complete Strategy) Copy This 11,000+ Lead Full Funnel Marketing Strategy

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ChatGPT Ads Are Here: What Happens Next? is an episode from Digital Marketing Podcast with Tim Cameron-Kitchen by Tim Cameron-Kitchen.

This episode is 00:26:38 long.

This episode was published on Jan 30, 2026.

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