OpenAI Tests Sponsored Agents Inside ChatGPT Ads
OpenAI published a product announcement on its own site titled "Reimagining advertising with AI", introducing new AI powered experiences for ChatGPT Ads. Everything below comes from that announcement.
Transcript
OpenAI is testing sponsored agents inside ChatGPT ads. Clicking an ad can start a conversation with the business.
Users can ask follow up questions in a clearly labeled chat that stays separate from ChatGPT's own answers.
Advertisers can now build and analyze campaigns by typing plain prompts in ChatGPT with the Ads Manager plugin.
HubSpot is the first CRM partner and Shopify the first ecommerce partner with a new app for United States merchants today.
OpenAI published no results data and says sponsored agents are only in testing with select advertisers in the United States.
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Sources
Every claim in this video comes from the top ranking coverage of this topic. The claims and where each one came from:
- "We're testing Sponsored Agents, which let people start a conversation with a business-sponsored agent after clicking an ad in ChatGPT." and "Introducing new AI-powered experiences for ChatGPT Ads." Supports the hook.(OpenAI (openai.com), first party product announcement titled "Reimagining advertising with AI", dated September 16, 2026, filed under Product, authored by OpenAI; read from the alert-time snapshot captured 2026-09-16T13:33:48Z.)
- "After seeing a relevant ad, a user can choose to start a clearly labeled conversation with a business-sponsored agent in ChatGPT. The user can explain what matters to them, ask follow-up questions, and follow a link to the business's website when they're ready to take the next step." and "The conversation with a Sponsored Agent is distinct from ChatGPT's independent answers and separate from the original conversation that the user started in ChatGPT." Supports scene 1.(OpenAI (openai.com), first party product announcement titled "Reimagining advertising with AI", dated September 16, 2026, filed under Product, authored by OpenAI; read from the alert-time snapshot captured 2026-09-16T13:33:48Z.)
- "Advertisers can now use simple, natural-language prompts to create, update, and analyze campaigns directly in ChatGPT with the Ads Manager plugin. They can turn a website or brief into a campaign, understand performance, and get recommendations on what to do next." Supports scene 2.(OpenAI (openai.com), first party product announcement titled "Reimagining advertising with AI", dated September 16, 2026, filed under Product, authored by OpenAI; read from the alert-time snapshot captured 2026-09-16T13:33:48Z.)
- "When drafting an ad, advertisers can now receive suggested copy and imagery based on their landing page and campaign objective. Advertisers remain in control: they can review and edit suggestions before choosing whether to add them to a campaign." and "We're also launching the ability to opt into AI-powered text customization. If enabled, it adapts an advertiser's existing headlines and descriptions to better fit the context of a conversation and automatically translates ad copy to a user's preferred language." Supports the scene 2 on-screen text.(OpenAI (openai.com), first party product announcement titled "Reimagining advertising with AI", dated September 16, 2026, filed under Product, authored by OpenAI; read from the alert-time snapshot captured 2026-09-16T13:33:48Z.)
- "That's why we're integrating ChatGPT Ads into HubSpot and Shopify as our first CRM and ecommerce partners." and "Starting today, businesses managing their customers in HubSpot can connect a ChatGPT Ads account, create ads, track performance, and follow up on leads directly in HubSpot powered by their HubSpot context." and "Also available today, US-based Shopify merchants can use the new ChatGPT Ads app in the Shopify App Store to create and manage ChatGPT ad campaigns." and "The app will be available internationally in markets where ChatGPT Ads are available starting September 23". Supports scene 3 and its on-screen text.(OpenAI (openai.com), first party product announcement titled "Reimagining advertising with AI", dated September 16, 2026, filed under Product, authored by OpenAI; read from the alert-time snapshot captured 2026-09-16T13:33:48Z.)
- "Sponsored Agents are now being tested with select advertisers in the United States." The announcement publishes no performance metrics, no pricing and no adoption numbers anywhere in its text; the only forward-looking statement is "Together, these updates represent the next step in building our AI-based advertising platform." Supports scene 4.(OpenAI (openai.com), first party product announcement titled "Reimagining advertising with AI", dated September 16, 2026, filed under Product, authored by OpenAI; read from the alert-time snapshot captured 2026-09-16T13:33:48Z.)