OpenAI is expanding its advertising business, confirming that it will begin displaying ads to users on the ChatGPT Free and Go subscription tiers in India. The rollout follows a recent update to the company’s terms of service, which added language noting that ads may appear while people use the AI assistant.
India has become one of OpenAI’s most important markets. The company said in February that it counts more than 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users in the country, with a significant portion using either the free tier or the lower-cost Go plan. Those users are now the focus of the new ad program.
How the ChatGPT Ads Program Works
OpenAI will launch with ads from 50 brands, working alongside agencies WPP and Omnicom to support the effort. The company also plans to release an ad manager next month, giving marketers a tool to build and run their own campaigns. To participate, advertisers will need to commit to a daily minimum budget of ₹725, or about EUR 7.
“With ChatGPT Ads, businesses of every size can introduce themselves at relevant, high-context moments when decisions are beginning to take shape,” said Dave Dugan, head of global ads solutions at OpenAI.
The India launch continues a broader push. OpenAI started serving ads to U.S. users in February and extended the program to Europe earlier this month.
Building a Foothold in India
OpenAI has invested heavily in growing its audience across India. In August 2025, it introduced a sub-EUR 4 ChatGPT Go plan and later ran a limited promotion that offered the tier free for a full year. The company also advertised its products during major cricket tournaments, including the Women’s Premier League and the Indian Premier League, and hired Uber’s former India head to lead its local expansion.
The advertising expansion arrives as OpenAI works to strengthen its revenue ahead of a potential IPO expected this year or next. According to reporting, the company recorded revenue of EUR 6 billion in the second quarter ended June 2026, up from EUR 5 billion in the prior quarter.
OpenAI has also set ambitious subscriber targets. The company reportedly aims to reach 220 million paying subscribers by 2030. At the time of that report, roughly 35 million users were paying for its Plus and Pro plans.
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