TIME Named OpenAI Executive Vijaye Raji to Annual List
The chief technology officer for OpenAI's Applications division earned the recognition following a major revenue milestone.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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TIME has named Vijaye Raji as a 2026 Executive of the Year. The recognition follows significant growth for OpenAI, which saw its new ChatGPT advertising program reach $1 billion in annualized revenue.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the rapid commercial expansion of generative AI tools. By scaling an advertising model alongside its core services, OpenAI has demonstrated a new path for monetizing large language models at a massive scale.
The ad system operates using two distinct models: one dedicated to answering user queries and a separate, parallel model for generating advertisements. OpenAI divides its internal operations across three primary divisions: Research, Scaling and Infrastructure, and Applications.
The players
Vijaye Raji
He is the chief technology officer of the Applications division at OpenAI and was named a 2026 Executive of the Year by TIME.
OpenAI
This artificial intelligence research and deployment company operates through three core divisions and recently introduced advertising to its platform.
TIME
This national media organization publishes an annual list recognizing influential leaders and executives across various industries.
The details
Vijaye Raji leads the technical teams within the Applications division that oversee data, experimentation, and growth strategies. His leadership has been central to the integration of the ad-serving infrastructure that operates independently of the query-answering interface.
Timeline
OpenAI launched the ChatGPT ad program in February 2026.
The ad program reached $1 billion in annualized revenue in late August 2026.
A correction regarding Raji's specific responsibilities was issued on September 22, 2026.
The Tech Race
This development represents a major shift as OpenAI pivots toward revenue-generating models to sustain its massive computing costs. It mirrors the transition of other tech giants that moved from subscription-only models to hybrid revenue streams supported by advertising algorithms.
Users of ChatGPT may experience more targeted advertising content integrated into their interactions as the company scales its ad program. This technical shift allows the platform to maintain its current services while diversifying its financial stability.
The takeaway
The successful integration of an ad-supported model into a sophisticated AI platform proves that generative tools can achieve high-volume monetization. Users should expect continued growth in personalized ad delivery as these divisions refine their dual-model systems.
Further reading
Explore more developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TIME.
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