OpenAI Launches Ads Manager in Closed Beta

OpenAI has launched Ads Manager in a closed beta format, available only to a limited number of advertisers. The tool follows a logic similar to Google Ads: it allows brands to independently launch campaigns and track their performance in real time — including impressions and clicks — without the need to engage agencies or the OpenAI team.

The key change introduced with the pilot is a significant lowering of the entry threshold. While advertisers previously needed to spend $200,000–$250,000 to participate in the test, the minimum budget has now been reduced to approximately $50,000. This considerably broadens the pool of potential participants and makes the platform more accessible for testing. CPM within the pilot is around $60.

Insiders say the pilot is already tracking toward approximately $100M in annualized revenue. Meanwhile, OpenAI is building out its own ad infrastructure and partnering with Criteo and Smartly to accelerate scaling.

The launch of Ads Manager is part of the company's IPO preparation and the development of an advertising business that could grow to $102 billion by 2030. The pilot is still ongoing and is likely to expand soon.