OpenAI to start showing ads on ChatGPT’s free and Go tiers in India

OpenAI announced on Thursday that it will begin displaying ads on its free and Go subscription tiers of ChatGPT in India. This change followed the company updating its terms of service in early February to permit ad displays to users while interacting with the AI assistant. In February, OpenAI revealed that it had over 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users in India, a substantial portion of them utilizing the free or Go tiers.

The company confirmed on Wednesday that it would initially showcase ads for 50 brands and has collaborated with agencies WPP and Omnicom for this purpose. OpenAI will also introduce an ad manager next month, enabling marketers to create campaigns for their companies, as long as their campaigns maintain a daily budget of at least ₹725 ($7.60).

Dave Dugan, OpenAI's head of global ads solutions, stated, "With ChatGPT Ads, businesses of any size can introduce themselves at pertinent, high-context moments when decisions are starting to take shape." OpenAI has made significant efforts to expand its user base in India, launching a sub-$5 plan for ChatGPT Go in August 2025 and running a limited promotional period that made that tier free for an entire year.

The company has also extensively marketed its products during various sports events, such as the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket leagues. Recently, OpenAI appointed Uber's India head to spearhead its expansion initiatives in the country. The AI firm initiated ad placements for U.S. users in February and extended the program to serve ads in Europe earlier this month.

In anticipation of a potential IPO, expected this year or next, OpenAI has been striving to augment and secure its revenue streams. According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI generated $6.7 billion in revenue during the second quarter ended June 2026, an increase from $5.7 billion in the previous quarter. In November, The Information reported that OpenAI aimed to achieve 220 million paying subscribers by 2030. The report suggested that at that time, 35 million users would pay for its Plus and Pro plans.