GPT-5 Set the Stage for Ad Monetization and the SuperApp

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To many power users (Pro and Plus), GPT5 was a disappointing release. But with closer inspection, the real release is focused on the vast majority of ChatGPT’s users, which is the 700m+ free userbase that is growing rapidly. Power users should be disappointed; this release wasn’t for them. The real consumer opportunity for OpenAI lies with the largest user base, and getting the unmonetized users who currently use ChatGPT infrequently in their day-to-day to indirectly pay is their largest opportunity. Analysts focused on the model capabilities are missing the much larger context of network effects that ChatGPT is gaining quickly. In November of 2023, ChatGPT wasn’t even in the top 100 websites; now it is number 5. Larger than X/Twitter, Reddit, Whatsapp, Wikipedia, and quickly approaching Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Google. On the top 10 list, every single property is much older than ChatGPT.com, and the sheer number of unmonetized users is staggering. But that changes with GPT-5.

GPT-5 Set the Stage for Ad Monetization and the SuperApp How ChatGPT will monetize free users, Router is the Release, AIs will serve Ads, Google's moat eroded?, The shift of purchasing intent queries Doug , Dylan Patel , Wei Zhou , and AJ Aug 13, 2025 ∙ Paid 12 Share To many power users (Pro and Plus), GPT5 was a disappointing release. But with closer inspection, the real release is focused on the vast majority of ChatGPT’s users, which is the 700m+ free userbase that is growing rapidly. Power users should be disappointed; this release wasn’t for them . The real consumer opportunity for OpenAI

GPT-5 Set the Stage for Ad Monetization and the SuperApp

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