OpenAI introduces advertising in india's free and go ChatGPT tiers

OpenAI has announced that it will begin displaying advertisements within the free and Go subscription tiers of its ChatGPT service in India. This decision follows a recent update to the company's terms of service, which outlined the introduction of ads for users. The company highlighted that it has over 100 million weekly active users in India, with a significant portion utilizing the free or lower-cost Go tiers. OpenAI plans to start with ads from 50 brands, collaborating with agencies WPP and Omnicom. The company will also launch an ad manager next month, allowing marketers to create campaigns with a minimum daily budget of ₹725 ($7.60). Dave Dugan, head of global ads solutions at OpenAI, stated that businesses of all sizes can introduce themselves at relevant moments when decisions are forming through ChatGPT Ads. OpenAI has made efforts to grow its user base in India, including launching a sub-$5 plan for ChatGPT Go in August 2025 and running a limited promotion that made the Go tier free for a full year. The company has also heavily advertised during sports events such as the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Recently, it hired Uber’s India head to lead its expansion in the country. The AI lab began showing ads to U.S. users in February and expanded the program to Europe earlier this month. As it prepares for a potential IPO expected this year or next, OpenAI has been working to increase its revenue streams. According to The Wall Street Journal, the AI lab generated $6.7 billion in revenue for the second quarter ended June 2026, up from $5.7 billion in the previous quarter. Last November, The Information reported that OpenAI aimed to reach 220 million paying subscribers by 2030. At that time, 35 million users were paying for its Plus and Pro plans.