OpenAI announced in August 2026 that it will begin showing advertisements to ChatGPT users in India on its Free and Go subscription tiers, marking the AI company’s latest expansion of its ad business beyond the United States and Europe.
The rollout will start with ads from 50 brands. OpenAI has partnered with advertising agencies WPP and Omnicom to support the launch, and plans to release an ad manager next month that will allow marketers to build campaigns directly. Campaigns will require a daily minimum budget of ₹725 (approximately $7.60). Dave Dugan, head of global ads solutions at OpenAI, said in a statement: “With ChatGPT Ads, businesses of every size can introduce themselves at relevant, high-context moments when decisions are beginning to take shape.”
India is a significant market for OpenAI. The company said in February 2026 that it has more than 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users in the country, with a large share of those on the free or lower-priced Go tiers. OpenAI has invested heavily in the market, launching a sub-$5 Go plan in August 2025, running a limited promotion that made that tier free for a year, advertising during the Women’s Premier League and Indian Premier League cricket tournaments, and hiring Uber’s India head to lead its expansion efforts there.
The ad program was first introduced to U.S. users in February 2026, then extended to Europe earlier in August 2026. OpenAI updated its terms of service earlier this month to reflect that ads would be shown to users of the AI assistant.
The move comes as OpenAI works to strengthen its revenue base ahead of a potential IPO expected this year or next. The company recorded $6.7 billion in revenue in the second quarter ended June 2026, up from $5.7 billion the prior quarter, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Source: TechCrunch