ChatGPT Ads Conversions API (CAPI) Integration with CPV Lab | CPV One

The ChatGPT Ads Conversions API (CAPI) lets CPV Lab | CPV One send conversion data directly to ChatGPT Ads - server to server.

No browser pixel is required. When a conversion is recorded in CPV Lab or CPV One, the tracker automatically fires a CAPI event to ChatGPT Ads with the conversion details.

ChatGPT Ads uses these CAPI signals to optimize ad delivery, improve audience targeting, and find more users likely to convert on your campaigns.

💡 The centralized CAPI Integrations flow described in this guide is available in CPV One and CPV Lab Version 14+. If you are on an older version of CPV Lab, CAPI is configured directly in the campaign setup page (step 3 below are done on the campaign setup page). We recommend upgrading to Version 14.


Who This Is For

👤 Affiliate media buyers and agencies: Use ChatGPT Ads CAPI to pass conversion events back to OpenAI for campaign optimization. ChatGPT Ads is a newer platform - getting clean conversion signals in from day one gives your campaigns the best chance of optimizing quickly.

🏪 Ecommerce and DTC brands: Send purchase events with revenue data to OpenAI's algorithm. CAPI-backed conversion data positions your campaigns for better optimization as ChatGPT Ads develops its bidding models.


What is ChatGPT Ads CAPI?

ChatGPT Ads CAPI (Conversions API) is a server-side conversion tracking integration provided by OpenAI for advertisers using ChatGPT Ads. Instead of relying on a JavaScript pixel that fires in the visitor's browser, CAPI sends conversion data directly from CPV Lab's or CPV One's server to OpenAI's servers.

Why use ChatGPT Ads CAPI instead of a browser pixel?

  • Conversions are tracked even when the visitor uses an ad blocker
  • Not affected by browser privacy restrictions or iOS privacy updates
  • More reliable attribution - ChatGPT receives the exact oppref click ID assigned to the visitor when they clicked the ad
  • Better optimization signal - the ChatGPT algorithm uses server-side conversion data to improve bidding and audience targeting

How does ChatGPT Ads CAPI compare to Facebook CAPI and TikTok CAPI?

ChatGPT Ads CAPI works on the same principle as Facebook Conversions API and TikTok Events API. You provide a Pixel ID and an API Access Token, and CPV Lab fires conversion events server-to-server whenever a conversion is recorded in your campaign. The key difference is the click ID parameter: ChatGPT uses oppref, Facebook uses fbclid, and TikTok uses ttclid.

CPV Lab supports all three: Facebook CAPI, TikTok CAPI, and ChatGPT Ads CAPI. Plus Google Ads, Microsoft Ads conversion integrations.


Before You Start

  • A ChatGPT Ads campaign already set up in CPV Lab | CPV One with ChatGPT as the traffic source - see Setting Up ChatGPT Ads Campaigns
  • An active ChatGPT Ads (opens new window) account
  • Conversion tracking already configured - your affiliate network's postback URL or your own tracking pixel must be set up in CPV Lab before CAPI can forward events to ChatGPT

Quick Summary


Step 1 - Get Your Pixel ID from ChatGPT Ads

The Pixel ID identifies which ChatGPT pixel receives the conversion events from CPV Lab or CPV One.

  1. Log in to your ChatGPT Ads account.
  2. Go to Tools ➡️ Conversions.
  3. Click Set Up a New Pixel to create a new one, or select an existing pixel.
  4. Complete the pixel setup steps.
  5. Copy the Pixel ID shown on the pixel details page.

ChatGPT Ads Tools - Conversions page showing the pixel details with the Pixel ID

💡 Save the Pixel ID in a secure place. You will need it in Step 3.


Step 2 - Get Your API Access Token from ChatGPT Ads

The API Access Token authorizes CPV Lab or CPV One to send CAPI events to your ChatGPT Ads pixel.

  1. On the Conversions page in ChatGPT Ads, click Conversion Keys in the top menu.
  2. Click + Create New Conversion Key.
  3. Name it something you will recognize - for example: CPV Lab CAPI.
  4. Copy the API Access Token value displayed.

ChatGPT Ads Tools - showing a new key created

⚠️ Store this token immediately. You cannot retrieve it again after leaving the page - you can only create a new one. Save it in a password manager or secure document alongside your Pixel ID.


Step 3 - Create the CAPI Integration in CPV One or CPV Lab

  1. Go to Sources ➡️ CAPI Integrations.
  2. In the Quick Add section, click the ChatGPT card.

ChatGPT Ads CAPI - Quick Add in CPV Lab | CPV One

  1. The Add ChatGPT Ads CAPI Integration form opens.

ChatGPT Ads CAPI - Add integration form in CPV Lab | CPV One

  1. Fill in the fields:

CAPI Integration Name - A name you will recognize in campaign setup. Examples:

  • ChatGPT CAPI - Main Pixel
  • OpenAI Ads CAPI - Purchase Events
  • ChatGPT CAPI - Lead Gen

CAPI Type - Pre-set to ChatGPT Ads.

Active - Toggle on.

API Access Token - Paste the conversion key from Step 2.

Pixel ID - Paste the Pixel ID from Step 1.

Conversion (Primary) Event - Select the event that matches your campaign goal (see event name table below).

Send Conversion % - Default 100.

Subscriber (Secondary) Event - Optional. Use this to also fire a ChatGPT event when a subscriber/opt-in is recorded in CPV One or CPV Lab, separate from the primary conversion.

Event Source URL - Optional. Only fill this in if your conversions come from a URL different from your campaign's landing page URL. Leave blank in most cases.

Action Source - Select web for standard web-based campaigns. Other options apply only in specific setups:

  • web - conversions happen in a browser (default for most campaigns)
  • mobile_app - conversions happen inside a mobile app
  • offline - conversions happen offline (phone, in-store)
  • physical_store - in-store purchases
  • phone_call - phone-based conversions
  • email - email-driven conversions
  • other - any other source

Amount passed - Default {!revenue!} passes the actual conversion revenue.

Currency - Match your ChatGPT Ads account currency. Use the 3-letter ISO code (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.).


ChatGPT Ads CAPI Event Names

ChatGPT Ads uses its own event naming format - all lowercase with underscores. Select the event that matches your campaign goal from the dropdown:

Campaign goal ChatGPT event name
Purchase / sale order_created
Lead generation lead_created
Appointment booking appointment_scheduled
Registration registration_completed
Start checkout checkout_started
View content contents_viewed
Add to cart items_added
Page view page_viewed
Subscribe subscription_created
Start trial trial_started

⚠️ ChatGPT Ads event names are different from Meta and TikTok. Use order_created (not Purchase) and lead_created (not Lead). CPV One and CPV Lab show the correct ChatGPT event names in the dropdown - just select from the list.

💡 Affiliate media buyers: Use lead_created for cost-per-lead offers and order_created for cost-per-sale offers.

💡 Ecommerce brands: Use order_created for completed purchases, checkout_started for checkout page visits, and items_added for cart additions.


Step 4 - Pass Extra Signals (Optional)

Click Pass Extra Signals (optional) to expand and configure additional customer data fields.

ChatGPT Ads CAPI - extra signals in CPV Lab | CPV One

💡 Affiliate media buyers: If your offer network passes back email or other user data in the conversion postback, use Postback Parameter to map those values to the corresponding signal fields.

💡 Ecommerce/DTC brands: If you capture email or ZipCode during checkout and store it in CPV Lab | CPV One Extra Tokens, map those tokens here using CPV Token.

Click Save when done.


Step 5 - Assign the Integration to a Campaign

  1. Open or create a ChatGPT Ads campaign in CPV One or CPV Lab.
  2. Make sure the campaign is set up to capture oppref - see Setting Up ChatGPT Ads Campaigns for the correct URL structure.
  3. Scroll to Pass events to the traffic source (ad network).
  4. Click the Dedicated Integration tab.
  5. Select your ChatGPT Ads CAPI integration from the dropdown.
  6. Save the campaign.

ChatGPT Ads CAPI - on campaign setup in CPV Lab | CPV One

✅ CPV One or CPV Lab will now fire a ChatGPT Ads CAPI event for every conversion recorded in this campaign.


Step 6 - Verify CAPI Events Are Being Sent

In CPV One or CPV Lab:

  1. Go to Settings ➡️ Postback Log after a test conversion.
  2. Look for entries with "type":"chatgptapi".
  3. Each successful entry should show "message":"OK" - this confirms ChatGPT accepted the CAPI event.

❌ Seeing an error instead of OK?

  • Invalid token: The API Access Token is wrong or expired. Regenerate it in ChatGPT Ads (Step 2) and update it in the integration.
  • Invalid Pixel ID: Check the value matches exactly what appears in ChatGPT Ads (Step 1).
  • Missing click ID: The oppref parameter was not captured. Check your campaign URL in ChatGPT Ads still includes the oppref parameter.

In ChatGPT Ads:

  1. Go to Tools ➡️ Conversions ➡️ Conversion Events.
  2. Open your pixel and check for recent conversion events.
  3. The event name you configured (e.g. order_created) should appear with a count and a recent timestamp.

⚠️ There is typically a delay of a few minutes between when CPV Lab or CPV One sends the CAPI event and when it appears in ChatGPT Ads. This is normal and does not affect tracking accuracy.


How ChatGPT Ads CAPI Uses Conversion Data

When CPV Lab or CPV One fires a CAPI event to ChatGPT Ads, it sends the following data:

  • Event name - the conversion type (e.g. order_created, lead_created)
  • oppref click ID - the unique identifier that links the conversion to the original ad click
  • Revenue amount - the conversion value (if configured with {!revenue!})
  • Currency - the revenue currency
  • Timestamp - when the conversion occurred

ChatGPT Ads uses this data to:

  • Attribute the conversion to the correct ad and campaign
  • Optimize bidding toward users more likely to convert
  • Build audience segments based on converters
  • Report accurate conversion counts and revenue in your ChatGPT Ads dashboard

Troubleshooting

No CAPI entries appearing in the Postback Log.

  • The campaign has not received a conversion yet since CAPI was configured. Trigger a test conversion and check again.
  • Confirm your affiliate network is firing the CPV Lab or CPV One postback URL correctly.
  • Check the API Access Token and Pixel ID are saved in the integration.

Postback Log shows errors.

  • Authentication failed: The API Access Token is incorrect. Regenerate it in ChatGPT Ads and re-enter it in the integration.
  • Pixel not found: The Pixel ID does not match. Copy it again directly from the ChatGPT Ads Conversions page.

Conversions appear in CPV Lab but not in ChatGPT Ads.

  • Check the Postback Log for the CAPI entry. If it shows OK, ChatGPT received the event - wait a few minutes and refresh the ChatGPT Ads Conversions page.
  • If the log shows an error, fix the issue described and wait for the next conversion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ChatGPT Ads CAPI? ChatGPT Ads CAPI (Conversions API) is a server-side integration from OpenAI that lets advertisers send conversion events directly to ChatGPT Ads without relying on a browser-based pixel. CPV Lab and CPV One support ChatGPT CAPI natively - once configured, conversion events are sent automatically with no additional action required.

What is oppref and does CPV One or CPV Lab capture it automatically? oppref is the OpenAI click reference token - ChatGPT Ads' equivalent of fbclid or ttclid. Unlike Meta or TikTok where the click ID is appended automatically, ChatGPT Ads requires you to include {oppref} as a parameter in your Landing Page Query Parameters field in the ad setup. CPV One and CPV Lab then capture it automatically from the URL. See ChatGPT Ads Campaign Setup for the exact setup.

Can I use ChatGPT CAPI without a landing page? Yes. Direct link campaigns work with ChatGPT CAPI as long as the oppref click ID is captured in the campaign URL. The CAPI event fires when CPV Lab or CPV One receives the conversion postback from your affiliate network / CRM system.

Do I need separate integrations for different ChatGPT Ads campaigns? Only if you want to fire different event types from different campaigns. If all your campaigns send to the same pixel and fire the same event, one integration covers all of them. Create separate integrations when you need different primary events (e.g. lead_created for one set of campaigns and order_created for another).

Is ChatGPT Ads CAPI different from other CAPI platforms? The concept is the same - server-to-server conversion delivery. The main differences are the click ID token (oppref instead of fbclid or ttclid), the event naming format (lowercase with underscores instead of camelCase), and the Action Source field. CPV One and CPV Lab handle these differences automatically - just select the correct event from the dropdown.

Does ChatGPT CAPI work with affiliate marketing campaigns? Yes. The most common setup for affiliate marketers is: traffic from ChatGPT Ads goes to your landing page or offer, your affiliate network fires the CPV Lab postback URL when a conversion happens, and CPV Lab fires the ChatGPT CAPI event automatically. No landing page pixel is required.

What revenue data does ChatGPT CAPI receive? CPV Lab passes the revenue amount stored in the {!revenue!} field to ChatGPT CAPI with each conversion event. This value comes from your affiliate network's postback URL or your tracking pixel's revenue parameter. If no revenue is passed, you can set a fixed payout amount in the CAPI Amount field.

How is ChatGPT CAPI different from a tracking pixel? A tracking pixel fires in the visitor's browser and can be blocked by ad blockers or privacy settings. ChatGPT CAPI sends data directly from CPV Lab's server to OpenAI's API - bypassing the browser entirely. This makes it more reliable, especially for mobile users and users with ad blockers enabled.


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