OpenAI Auto-Opts Advertisers Into Automated Bidding. The Fine Print Says It Doesn't Guarantee Anything.
OpenAI made its "Maximize Results" bid strategy the default for new qualifying ad groups, meaning advertisers may find themselves enrolled in automated bidding without explicit consent. The documentation is refreshingly honest about the limitations: it does not guarantee delivery against specific CPA, CPC, or ROAS targets. It only promises to optimize spend toward a stated goal within budget. Pinterest, meanwhile, posted Q2 2026 revenue growth of 18 percent.
This illustrates a principle I call opt-in drift, where platforms shift users into automated systems under the guise of convenience. The mechanism is default asymmetry: whatever the default is, most users accept it. The lesson is that you should never trust a platform to set your bidding defaults for you. Read the documentation before the algorithm spends your money.
OpenAI rolled out the Maximize Results bid strategy as its new default. Pinterest reported 18 percent Q2 2026 revenue growth. The analysis comes from JumpFly, a digital marketing agency.
- Open whatever advertising platform you currently use and navigate to your active campaign settings. Locate the bid strategy field on any existing ad group.
- Read the platform's own documentation or help page for that bid strategy. Look specifically for language about what the strategy does not guarantee. You will likely find similar hedging.
- Write down your actual CPA or ROAS target. Compare it to what the automated strategy claims to optimize for. If the two do not match, switch to manual bidding.