Column|OpenAI: Advertising Hiring Expands, with More Roles in Acquisition and Measurement

Our GOOG preview for institutional clients correctly called softer Search and ~101% GCP growth. Channel checks flagged the first signs of ChatGPT affecting ad revenue, and we deemed it important enough for the title of the report:

Another important signal is organizational: OpenAI has built out a full advertising operation—sales, self-serve platform, measurement, SMB acquisition, industry coverage (media, travel, financial services), and regional channels—with hiring accelerating sharply in Q2–Q3.

Though hiring does not prove ad revenue scale, Open AI’s accelerating advertiser acquisition investment will be relevant to Google analysts and investors. This report uses OpenAI’s advertising-related job postings to assess how its commercialization team is taking shape and compares the hiring evidence with channel feedback discussed in our GOOG 26Q3 preview.