OpenAI’s Ad Play: What It Means for You
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Episode Description
On January 16, OpenAI announced that ads are rolling out to ChatGPT users on free and $8/month plans. This isn’t a test balloon. It’s happening now, and it fundamentally changes how we need to think about paid acquisition.
Carlos and Judd break down the announcement, the economics forcing OpenAI’s hand (they’re burning $9B/year), and what this means for anyone buying ads or building traffic strategies.
What you’ll learn:
→ How ChatGPT ads actually work: placement, targeting, and restrictions
→ Why AI-referred traffic is converting 4-5x better than Google Search
→ How conversational discovery flips the traditional funnel (TOFU, MOFU, BOFU)
→ The early mover advantage before CPCs explode
→ Real risks: trust erosion, privacy concerns, platform dependency
→ Why Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) matters alongside paid
This is the inflection point. Attention is moving into AI interfaces, and brands that figure out how to show up here early will have a massive edge over those who wait.
Meet our Host
Join Judd Dunagan and Carlos Caneja on the WordPress Podcast where they unpack real-world eCommerce wins and losses, explore plugin strategies, and break down what it takes to grow faster with WooCommerce and WordPress.
Founder, Bright Vessel
Judd Dunagan
Product strategist. Data whisperer. The guy you call when your WooCommerce checkout leaks leads and your stack needs a smarter, faster rebuild.
Founder, Britecode
Carlos Caneja
Digital architect. Process optimizer. The one who turns WordPress chaos into clarity with workflows that scale from side hustle to enterprise.