Core Viewpoint - OpenAI is facing a financial crisis, prompting the introduction of advertising in ChatGPT as a potential solution to generate revenue and avoid bankruptcy [7][15][51]. Financial Situation - OpenAI is projected to run out of funds within 18 months, with reports indicating a possible acquisition by larger companies like Microsoft or Amazon [7][15]. - The company raised a record $40 billion in funding last year, but its expenses are significantly high, with projected annual burn rates exceeding $8 billion in 2025 and reaching $40 billion by 2028 [10][13]. - OpenAI's revenue for the previous year was only $20 billion, highlighting a substantial financial gap compared to its expenditures [15]. - The AI industry is estimated to have an $800 billion funding shortfall, exacerbating OpenAI's financial challenges [15][16]. Advertising Strategy - OpenAI plans to test advertising in the free version of ChatGPT, marking a shift from a subscription-based revenue model to include advertising income [26][28]. - The ads will be labeled as "sponsored content" and will not affect the objectivity of ChatGPT's responses [27][29]. - OpenAI anticipates generating "low billions" in revenue from advertising by 2026, with plans to scale this income source over time [22][28]. Business Model Expansion - The introduction of advertising is part of OpenAI's broader commercial strategy, which includes subscription services and API usage-based billing [25][41]. - OpenAI's CFO emphasized that the business model should expand in line with the value created by its intelligence [36]. - Future revenue growth is expected to come from various sources, including subscriptions, API usage, and potential new pricing models as AI technology advances [41][42]. User Engagement and Growth - OpenAI's weekly and daily active user metrics are at all-time highs, driven by a cycle of investment in computing power, research, and product development [43][44]. - The company expects a 9.5-fold increase in computing power from 2023 to 2025, with revenue growth projected to match this increase [46][55].