A lot of people still see ChatGPT as an SEO play.
But signs point to somewhere bigger.
OpenAI is already hiring for roles to build its ad platform infrastructure.
OpenAI Shifting Toward Advertising
Google Search was known for high intent.
In 2025, AI referral traffic is:
Converting 3x higher, or more.
Contributing to 20% of major retailer Walmart’s referral traffic.
Zero click: Higher intent and relevance.
Now comes the next shift: paid advertising.
And if (or when) checkouts happen directly in platform:
ChatGPT won’t just be an ad channel. It’ll become the next eCommerce platform.
Built on 800M weekly active users. 2.5B prompts daily. 📈
Game Plan: Paid Media Teams
Growth teams can position early - before everyone else does.
Here’s how to get ahead:
Train models now: Brand visibility in AI answers using problem-solution format, cited sources.
Paid media (not just SEO): Test early ad formats and plan budget for this while it’s still the advantage, not the norm. It will be a short window.
Measure new metrics beyond clicks. Return on answered questions, engagement and ads embedded within answer.
Key Takeaway
AI Search isn’t just the “new SEO” -
It’s the next ad ecosystem.
👉 Want better visibility? [Read this]
👉 Want help aligning your strategy to where the industry is headed?