OpenAI will begin showing ads on its ChatGPT Free and Go subscription tiers in India starting this month. The move follows a recent update to the company’s terms of service that explicitly allows ads during AI assistant use.
The rollout will initially feature 50 brands, with OpenAI partnering with agencies WPP and Omnicom to manage the campaign. Marketers can create campaigns through a new ad manager launching next month, but each requires a minimum daily budget of ₹725 ($7.60). OpenAI highlighted India’s role in its growth, noting over 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users there, many on free or low-cost plans.
This expansion follows similar ad programs already live in the U.S. and Europe. The company’s revenue climbed to $6.7 billion in Q2 2026, up from $5.7 billion the prior quarter, as it seeks to diversify income ahead of a potential IPO.
