Hakuhodo DY ONE Starts Offering OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads Pilot in Japan
〜Creating a new advertising experience to help find useful information〜
Tokyo, June 18, 2026 – We are pleased to announce that Hakuhodo DY ONE Inc. has begun handling the ads pilot for ChatGPT, an AI service offered by OpenAI, as a launch partner in Japan.
Background
With the rapid market penetration of AI, sei-katsu-sha* are increasingly obtaining information through conversations with AI, in addition to the traditional keyword search. In particular, ChatGPT has significant potential as a new point of contact with useful information as it is used as a tool to explore information on topics of interest to users for deeper understanding.
ChatGPT ads do not influence ChatGPT’s responses, and are visually separated from them. Users’ conversations with ChatGPT, chat history, memories, or personal details are not shared with advertisers.
Following the launch of the ChatGPT ads pilot in Japan in June 2026, Hakuhodo DY ONE built a framework for handling the ads pilot as a launch partner in Japan. Moving one step beyond search actions to define “conversation” as a new touchpoint, we will support clients’ digital marketing from every angle.
Next Steps
As part of the Hakuhodo DY Group’s cross-Group AI expert initiative HCAI Professionals, Hakuhodo DY ONE aims to establish a new advertising approach on conversational AI platforms, building on our track record in search ads and AI. By capturing changes in the behavior of sei-katsu-sha at an early stage and creating new touchpoints between brands and sei-katsu-sha, we will promote digital marketing of the next generation to drive the business growth of clients.
* “Sei-katsu-sha” is a term we use to describe people not simply as consumers, but as fully rounded individuals with their own lifestyles, aspirations and dreams.
