OpenAI admits ChatGPT ads may run up to a day after pause, sparking billing complaints
OpenAI confirmed that its ChatGPT advertising platform can continue delivering ads for up to one business day after a campaign is paused, leading to unexpected charges for advertisers.
Excel4Business manager Ed Bolton discovered that ChatGPT ads continued to appear after he paused campaigns in North America, with one instance running about 94 minutes later. OpenAI’s support team confirmed a defect where the ad-level status did not update promptly, causing continued delivery and billing. While the company initially identified £60.72 in invalid charges and suggested a refund, it later invoked Section 11.1 of its Advertising Terms, which permits ads to run for up to one business day after a campaign change.
OpenAI explained the lag is a known latency issue and that its Ads Engineering team is deploying a fix. The incident highlights a broader industry practice of allowing a grace period for ad shutdowns, though Bolton noted his long-time experience with Google Ads never involved such delays.
Why it matters
Advertisers may be billed for ads they thought were stopped, raising concerns about transparency and billing practices in AI-driven ad platforms.
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