“With ChatGPT Ads, businesses of every size can introduce themselves at relevant, high-context moments when decisions are beginning to take shape,” Dave Dugan, OpenAI’s head of global ads solutions, said in a statement.
OpenAI said the ads will be clearly identified and visually separated from ChatGPT’s answers. Advertisers will not receive access to users’ conversations, chat history, memories or personal information, and OpenAI said it does not sell user data to advertisers. Brands will instead receive aggregated performance data such as impressions and clicks.
The company is also placing restrictions around who can see ads and where they can appear. Accounts belonging to users who identify themselves as under 18, or whom OpenAI determines are minors, will not receive ads. Sponsored content will also be excluded from conversations involving sensitive or regulated subjects such as health, mental health and politics.
India gives OpenAI a large audience for the expansion. The company said in February that ChatGPT had more than 100 million weekly active users in the country. The Go subscription costs ₹399 per month in India and has been a significant part of OpenAI’s effort to attract users who want a lower-priced paid option.
OpenAI introduced the sub-$5 Go plan in India in August 2025 and later offered the tier free for one year through a limited promotion. The company has also marketed ChatGPT during major cricket tournaments and recently hired Uber’s India head to oversee its expansion in the country.
The India rollout follows earlier advertising launches elsewhere. OpenAI began showing ads to U.S. users in February and later expanded the program to additional markets, including Europe. The ad pilot passed $100 million in annualized revenue within six weeks of its U.S. launch, according to the additional article.
Advertising is becoming another revenue source for OpenAI as the company continues growing its paid subscription business. OpenAI generated $6.7 billion in revenue during the second quarter ended June 2026, up from $5.7 billion in the previous quarter, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The company has also set aggressive subscription targets. The Information reported last November that OpenAI was aiming for 220 million paying ChatGPT subscribers by 2030. At the time of that report, 35 million users were paying for Plus and Pro plans.
India now becomes one of the largest markets where OpenAI is combining a sizable free user base with an advertising business, while keeping its higher-priced subscription tiers free of sponsored placements.
This analysis is based on reporting from NDTV.
Image courtesy of Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
