The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday, Jan. 17, edition that Microsoft-backed OpenAI will begin showing ads in ChatGPT for some U.S. users to generate revenue for developing the technology. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that OpenAI said on Friday that ads will be tested with users on its free tier and the expanding Go plan. These ads will appear in the coming weeks and will be distinct from ChatGPT's answers. Users on Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise tiers will not see ads. OpenAI assures that ads will nor affect ChatGPT's outputs, and user conversations will not be shared with marketers. The move marks a significant shift for the company, which had relied on subscriptions. It reflects the pressure OpenAI faces to boost revenue as it invests heavily in data centres and prepares for an anticipated initial public offering. The money-losing start-up plans to spend more than $1-trillion (U.S.) on artificial intelligence infrastructure by 2030, but has not given details on how it plans to fund it. Analysts said that ads could unlock a significant revenue stream from ChatGPT's 800 million weekly active users, but the move could irk some customers and hurt trust in the product.