The Next Big Ad Channel? AI Platforms Like ChatGPT
Author: Tanya Ganian
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
9:00 am
POINT7DIGITAL Montreal Digital Marketing Company

We’ve all watched Google Ads and social media advertising evolve over the last decade. But here’s something you might not have on your radar yet: AI platforms—like ChatGPT—are gearing up to become the next major paid advertising channel.

And when it happens, it’s going to change the way brands reach customers.

Why This Matters

ChatGPT is no longer “just” a chatbot. People are using it to research products, compare options, get recommendations, and even make purchase decisions just like they do on Google. The difference? Instead of scanning through 10 blue links, the AI gives a single, confident, conversational recommendation.

Imagine what happens when those recommendations can be sponsored.

What’s Coming

While OpenAI hasn’t officially rolled out an ad platform yet, all the signals are there:

• They’ve been hiring talent from Google, Meta, and X.

• Analysts project over $1 billion in ad revenue by 2026, scaling up rapidly from there.

• Early partners and third-party tools are already experimenting with sponsored content inside custom GPTs and AI-powered search results.

We’re talking about ads that blend into conversations naturally contextual, helpful, and highly targeted. Not banner ads. Not pop-ups. But embedded recommendations that match the user’s intent in real time.

 A recent Accenture study found that 85% of ad buyers are experimenting with or scaling Gen AI for their marketing workflows, viewing it as a "force multiplier" - Source: Accentura.com 

Why It’s a Game Changer for Marketers

Here’s why AI platform ads could outpace traditional PPC or social campaigns:

1. Intent is crystal clear: The AI knows exactly what the user is asking, meaning your ad placement is laser-targeted.

2. Zero scrolling: If your brand is the one recommended, you’re not fighting for attention in a feed.

3. Conversational relevance: The ad doesn’t interrupt; it adds value to the exact conversation the user is having.

 “We’re at the start of a massive shift. Just like Google search ads changed the game twenty years ago, AI platforms like ChatGPT are about to become the next big advertising channel. Brands that prepare now will own the advantage when this wave goes mainstream.” – Tanya Ganian, Founder of Point7Digital.com 

How to Get Ahead Now

The brands that win here won’t be the ones who wait until the ad platform launches. They’ll be the ones who:

• Start experimenting with current options like sponsored spots inside custom GPTs (via tools like Hintloop or Microsoft’s Chat Ads API).

• Optimize for “AI SEO” so their content gets cited organically in AI responses before paid options even exist.

• Develop conversational ad copy that feels natural in a Q&A context, not like a Facebook carousel.

If you’ve been feeling like paid ads on Facebook or Google are oversaturated and getting pricier every quarter, this could be your fresh playing field. 

The early adopters, the ones who understand how to make ads work in a conversational AI environment, will set the benchmarks for everyone else.

AI platforms aren’t just changing the way people search. They’re about to change the way we advertise. The time to start planning is now.

Let’s build you a strategy that actually converts.

👉 Reach out to us to book a free strategy call, and let’s map out an ad plan built for results, not regrets. 

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