TechCrunch Industry News OpenAI COO says ads will be ‘an iterative process’; plus, OpenClaw's creator has some advice for AI builders
Feb 25, 2026
Discussion of ads arriving in ChatGPT and how rollout, privacy, and trust shape the plan. Coverage of high ad rates, industry reactions, and Shopify joining the ad program. A creator recounts making a viral AI agent, using it for real tasks abroad, and urging playful experimentation when building AI tools.
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OpenAI Sees Ads As Iterative Product Work
- OpenAI treats ChatGPT ads as an iterative product decision tied to user trust and privacy.
- Brad Lightcap urged giving the rollout a few months while the company tunes ad relevance and experience.
Early ChatGPT Ad Rates Raised Eyebrows
- Early OpenAI ad pricing and minimums drew attention for being unusually high and restrictive.
- Reports cited $60 per 1,000 impressions and roughly $200,000 minimum commitments for advertisers.
OpenClaw Born From Playful Exploration And Travel Use
- Peter Steinberger began by exploring integrations like WhatsApp, then built OpenClaw after labs hadn't delivered what he wanted.
- The prototype clicked on a Marrakesh weekend when convenience made him use it to find restaurants, texts, and web info.