ChatGPT Tests Sponsored Agents and Launches Ads on Shopify

ChatGPT is launching an AI-centered advertising component: sponsored conversations are being tested in the United States, creation assistance tools in Ads Manager, and immediate integrations with HubSpot and Shopify. An international launch of the advertising application on Shopify is scheduled for September 23.

Immediate Availability and International Integration Timeline

ChatGPT Ads are now integrated with HubSpot and Shopify, the first CRM and e-commerce partners. Starting today, businesses using HubSpot can connect their ChatGPT Ads account, create campaigns, track performance, and manage leads directly within HubSpot. U.S.-based merchants on Shopify also have access to the ChatGPT Ads application via the Shopify App Store to create and manage their advertising campaigns. Products are already linked through Shopify Catalog, allowing for immediate ad deployment and performance tracking. The application is set to be offered internationally starting September 23, in markets where ChatGPT Ads are accessible. Meanwhile, Sponsored Agents are being tested with a limited number of advertisers in the United States.

Conversational Experiences: What Sponsored Agents Offer

Sponsored Agents provide the opportunity to continue an advertisement by engaging in a discussion. When a relevant ad appears, the user has the option to initiate a clearly identified exchange in ChatGPT with a brand-sponsored agent. They can detail their expectations, request additional information, and, if desired, access a link leading to the advertiser's website. For users, this format can help assess the suitability of a product or service to their needs. For businesses, it offers a way to nurture existing interest through personalized interaction. These exchanges remain distinct from ChatGPT's independent responses and separate from the user's initial discussion. The stated goal of ads in ChatGPT is to help users find what they are looking for or discover new options, including practical cases like purchasing a table and the accompanying questions.

AI Tools for Marketers in ChatGPT and Ads Manager

New tools are being rolled out today to expedite advertising tasks deemed time-consuming, from converting a brief into an ad to analysis. Advertisers can now manage the creation, updating, and analysis of campaigns directly in ChatGPT, via the Ads Manager plugin, using simple natural language instructions. They can transform a website or brief into a campaign, access performance insights, and receive recommendations for next steps. An AI assistant integrated into Ads Manager offers text and image suggestions during drafting, based on the landing page and campaign objective. Advertisers maintain control, with the ability to review and modify before adding these contents. An activation option also allows for AI-driven text personalization: existing titles and descriptions adjust to the context of the conversation, and the message is automatically translated into the user's preferred language. Meanwhile, ad creation is facilitated by instructions in ChatGPT Work, and Ads Manager benefits from new AI creative tools.

ChatGPT Takes a New Step in AI-Based Advertising

These launches are presented as a step towards building an AI-centered advertising platform. As AI is increasingly leveraged to discover products, compare options, and make decisions, new modes of connection between users and businesses are being developed. The claimed approach involves rethinking both how people interact with brands in an AI-native framework and how businesses use AI tools to create and manage their campaigns. The stated ambition encompasses two aspects: advertising experiences designed to be more useful to users and tools aimed at reducing the time marketing teams spend on processes. In this context, new AI-powered experiences are being introduced, and the first integrations with HubSpot and Shopify are being established.