OpenAI announced that, beginning on Thursday, it will start showing advertisements to users of the ChatGPT Free and Go tiers in India. The move follows a revision to the company’s terms of service earlier this month indicating that users may see ads while using the AI assistant.
Rollout details and partners
The company said it will initially display ads for 50 brands in India. OpenAI has partnered with advertising agencies WPP and Omnicom for the program. It also plans to launch an ad manager next month that will allow marketers to create campaigns; campaigns will be required to meet a daily minimum budget of ₹725 (about $7.60).
Dave Dugan, head of global ads solutions at OpenAI, said the product will let businesses of all sizes introduce themselves “at relevant, high-context moments when decisions are beginning to take shape.”
Why India and the user base there
OpenAI reported in February that it has more than 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users in India, a significant portion of whom are on the free or lower-priced Go tiers. The company has actively cultivated its Indian user base: it launched a sub-$5 plan for ChatGPT Go in August 2025 and ran a limited promotion that made that tier free for a full year. OpenAI also promoted its products during sporting events such as the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) and hired the former head of Uber’s India operations to lead its expansion in the country.
Business context
OpenAI began showing ads to U.S. users in February and expanded the program to Europe earlier this month. Introducing ads is part of the company’s effort to diversify and solidify revenue streams ahead of a potential initial public offering (IPO), which is expected either this year or next.
According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI recorded $6.7 billion in revenue in the second quarter ended June 2026, up from $5.7 billion in the prior quarter. A November report by The Information said OpenAI was aiming for 220 million paying subscribers by 2030 and that at the time about 35 million users paid for its Plus and Pro plans.
What this means for users
The ad rollout will primarily affect Indian users on the ChatGPT Free and Go tiers. For OpenAI, the change introduces a new revenue channel and offers brands a way to reach users at moments of information-seeking and decision-making. Details such as exact ad formats and placements are expected to become clearer as the India program proceeds.
Summary
OpenAI’s India ad launch targets Free and Go users, starts with 50 brands and partners WPP and Omnicom, and will be supported by an ad manager requiring a ₹725 daily minimum. The initiative is part of a broader push to grow revenue ahead of a possible IPO while the company expands advertising experiments internationally.
