ChatGPT Ads in the UK: The Latest Developments & Your Questions Answered

The rise of AI advertising is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. You may even have spotted an advert for ChatGPT Ads while scrolling through Facebook or Instagram recently. Yes, really, an ad for an ad! It might sound a little strange, but it is a good illustration of how quickly the advertising landscape around AI is developing.

And now, with OpenAI rolling out ads in the UK, businesses have another potential route to reach people as they research, compare products and services, and make decisions. With new campaign options becoming available and integrations with platforms such as HubSpot and Shopify developing, there is plenty for businesses and marketers to understand.

 

 

This latest HookedOnMedia guide answers the key questions businesses are asking about ChatGPT Ads right now. How do they work? How much does it cost to advertise in ChatGPT? Which UK businesses are already using them? 

Most importantly, what does all of this mean for your wider digital marketing strategy, and should businesses be thinking about ChatGPT Ads alongside Google Ads, SEO and AI search optimisation?

 

What are ChatGPT Ads?

ChatGPT Ads are paid advertisements that can appear below a ChatGPT response. They are clearly labelled as sponsored and are kept separate from the AI-generated answer.

The current format can include the advertiser’s name, logo, headline, description, image and a link to the advertiser’s website.

Importantly, OpenAI says advertising does not influence the answers ChatGPT provides. Advertisers cannot pay to change, rank or alter ChatGPT’s responses.

Ads are currently available to eligible users on ChatGPT’s Free and Go plans. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu accounts do not have ads.

How are ChatGPT Ads different from Google Ads?

Google Ads are largely built around search queries and keywords. Someone searches for a phrase such as “best family hotel in Cornwall”, and advertisers can bid to appear for relevant searches.

ChatGPT Ads work within a conversation. OpenAI says its advertising system considers signals including the context and intent of the current conversation, the advertiser’s landing page, ad copy, targeting selections and advertiser-provided “context hints”.

Context hints are not traditional exact-match keywords. Instead, advertisers can describe the types of conversations, topics or situations where their product or service may be relevant.

This means ChatGPT advertising is designed around conversational intent rather than simply matching individual search terms.

 

How much do ChatGPT Ads cost?

ChatGPT Ads currently support three campaign objectives: Views, Clicks and Conversions. Depending on the campaign, advertisers can use CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions), CPC (cost per click) or conversion-focused campaigns.

For UK advertisers, the current minimum daily budget is £15. Actual campaign costs will depend on the campaign objective, bidding and competition. OpenAI also recommends starting with a manageable daily budget so advertisers can monitor performance before committing more spend.

Advertisers can then track metrics including impressions, clicks, spend, click-through rate (CTR), average CPC, average CPM and conversions, giving businesses a way to assess how their campaigns are performing.

 

Which businesses can use ChatGPT Ads?

ChatGPT Ads can potentially be useful for businesses that want to reach customers while they are actively researching a product or service.

That could include ecommerce brands, travel companies, financial services, retailers, professional services and many other sectors.

Several major UK brands are already among the early businesses exploring advertising in ChatGPT, including Hilton, Hiscox, Next and Tesco. Their involvement spans sectors including travel, insurance, retail and hospitality, giving an early indication of the range of businesses interested in reaching consumers through conversational AI. 

 

What about Shopify and HubSpot?

OpenAI is also connecting ChatGPT Ads with other marketing platforms.

HubSpot integration is now available wherever ChatGPT Ads are available. Businesses can connect their ChatGPT Ads account to HubSpot, create campaigns, send leads into their CRM and view advertising performance alongside other channels.

Shopify integration is also developing. OpenAI says the connection can synchronise product catalogues and commerce events with ChatGPT Ads, helping ecommerce businesses create product advertising and measure results. It is currently available to Shopify customers in the US, with wider availability planned. For UK Shopify sellers, that makes this one to watch and a good reason to make sure product data, feeds and website content are ready for the next stage of AI-powered advertising. 

 

What are Sponsored Agents?

Sponsored Agents are another development worth watching.

They allow someone to start a conversation with an AI representative of a business after interacting with an advertisement. In other words, the ad could become the starting point for a more interactive conversation about a product or service.

However, businesses should not currently treat Sponsored Agents as a standard ChatGPT Ads format. OpenAI says they are still being tested with selected advertisers in a limited alpha, so availability is restricted.

 

What does ChatGPT advertising mean for digital marketing?

The arrival of ChatGPT Ads does not mean businesses should abandon Google Ads or traditional SEO. Instead, it adds another potential channel to the digital marketing mix.

The bigger change is that people are increasingly using AI to research, compare products and services, and make decisions. This makes it increasingly important for businesses to think about both paid visibility and organic visibility across AI-powered search.

 

How can HookedOnMedia help?

At HookedOnMedia, we can help businesses navigate both sides of this changing search landscape. Our PPC team can help you plan and manage campaigns through Chat GPT Ads & Google Ads, while  our advanced AI SEO strategies help brands improve their visibility across AI-powered search and discovery.

Ready to make your digital marketing strategy work harder across Google and AI search? Talk to HookedOnMedia about PPC, AI SEO and web design that is built for where search is heading.

 

Disclaimer: Information in this article is correct at the time of publishing, September 2026. ChatGPT Ads, pricing, targeting, integrations and availability are developing rapidly, so features and requirements may change.