{"slug": "openai-updates-privacy-policy-for-ad-personalization-on-chatgpt", "title": "OpenAI updates privacy policy for ad personalization on ChatGPT", "summary": "OpenAI has updated its privacy policy to support ad personalization as it expands sponsored content in ChatGPT to the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea, following a US launch on February 9, 2026. The policy, updated on April 30, 2026, for the US and June 2, 2026, for the EU and UK, allows data such as chat context, ad interactions, and stored memories to be used for ad targeting, with US users defaulted into personalized ads (opt-out) and EU/UK users requiring explicit consent (opt-in). Advertisers do not get direct access to conversations, and ads are labeled and do not influence AI responses.", "body_md": "Via gizmodo.com\n\n# OpenAI updates privacy policy for ad personalization on ChatGPT\n\nThe AI giant is rolling out sponsored content across multiple countries, giving users a choice on whether their data fuels ad targeting.\n\nOpenAI has updated its privacy policy to account for ad personalization as it expands sponsored content within ChatGPT to new regions worldwide.\n\n## How the ad rollout unfolded\n\nOpenAI first began testing ads in the US on February 9, 2026. The initial experiment targeted adult users on the Free and Go subscription tiers, keeping Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans ad-free.\n\nBy August 11, 2026, the program had expanded to the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. The US privacy policy received ad-related data handling updates around April 30, 2026. A separate policy update on June 2, 2026, addressed requirements specific to the EU and UK.\n\nIn the US, ads are served by default, with users given the option to opt out. In the EU and UK, the opposite applies: personalized ads require explicit user consent before they can be shown.\n\n## What the policy actually says\n\nThe updated privacy framework clarifies several categories of data that can be used to serve relevant ads. These include chat context, ad interactions, and, for eligible users, stored memories within ChatGPT.\n\nUsers can toggle ad personalization on or off at any time through their settings and can delete ad-related data whenever they choose. Ads within ChatGPT are clearly labeled, and the company states they do not influence the AI’s actual responses.\n\nAdvertisers will not have direct access to user conversations. OpenAI handles the targeting internally, using contextual signals to match ads to users without exposing the raw dialogue.\n\nOpenAI communicated these changes through emails sent to its user base, walking users through the new controls and explaining their significance.\n\n## Privacy tensions and what to watch\n\nIn the US, the opt-out model means most users will receive personalized ads unless they actively dig into their settings and flip a toggle. In the EU and UK, the opt-in requirement means OpenAI will likely see lower personalization rates among European users.\n\n**Disclosure:** This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our\n\n[Editorial Policy](https://cryptobriefing.com/editorial-policy/).", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-updates-privacy-policy-for-ad-personalization-on-chatgpt", "canonical_source": "https://cryptobriefing.com/openai-privacy-policy-chatgpt-ad-personalization/", "published_at": "2026-08-16 09:27:15+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-16 09:41:47.408412+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy", "ai-products", "ai-ethics"], "entities": ["OpenAI", "ChatGPT"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-updates-privacy-policy-for-ad-personalization-on-chatgpt", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-updates-privacy-policy-for-ad-personalization-on-chatgpt.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-updates-privacy-policy-for-ad-personalization-on-chatgpt.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-updates-privacy-policy-for-ad-personalization-on-chatgpt.jsonld"}}