OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Ads in India to Monetize 100 Million Users Ahead of 2027 IPO

OpenAI rolls out ads on select ChatGPT plans in India to boost monetization, support wider access

* OpenAI has rolled out ads for free users and those on low-priced subscription plans. * India is among ChatGPT's largest and most active markets. * The ad feature is live in 38 other countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and Japan. * ChatGPT has more individuals as direct consumers rather than enterprises, so ads can help monetize the business at scale. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addresses the gathering at the AI Impact Summit, in New Delhi, India, February 19, 2026. Bhawika Chhabra | Reuters OpenAI has rolled out ads on ChatGPT for select plans in India, one of its largest and most active markets, as the artificial intelligence company looks to maximize its revenue ahead of its planned listing next year. Advertising would support "broader access to ChatGPT through free and lower-cost tiers," a spokesperson for OpenAI told CNBC in an email. Ads have been rolled out for free users and those on the 399 rupee ($4) per month 'Go' plan. The ad feature is already live in 38 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Korea and across 31 European nations, as per the information shared by the company. "India is one of ChatGPT's largest and most active markets," the spokesperson said, adding that OpenAI's priority is to "learn from users and advertisers while protecting the experience that made ChatGPT valuable in the first place." The company also added that it does not show ads to users who identify as, or are predicted by the algorithm to be under 18. OpenAI is planning to go public in 2027 and faces pressure to justify its $852 billion valuation ahead of its IPO, especially as some of its key metrics lag behind its rival Anthropic, which is also preparing for listing on public markets. Monetization through ads will help OpenAI partially cover the cost of generating inference for a query and stem the company's losses, experts said. Unlike Anthropic, which gets a higher share of its revenues from enterprises, OpenAI is more popular among individual consumers, explained Ujjwal Chaudhry, a partner at market intelligence firm Analysys Mason. To monetize an individual consumer base on a scale, the ad model is most effective, Chaudhry said, adding that his firm's data shows that online ads account for more than 75% of total global ad spending worth $1.18 trillion. In-app advertisements are a $400 billion market. OpenAI told CNBC, "ads will be clearly labeled, visually separate and shown below the response," adding that "Answer independence is non-negotiable." Earlier this year, Anthropic slammed OpenAI's plans to start showing ads, insisting that its chatbot Claude will remain ad-free. Users will not see ads or sponsored links near their conversations, and the chatbot's answers will not be influenced by third-party product placements, Anthropic had said. VIDEO10:4810:48 Watch CNBC's full interview with Niles Investment Management's Dan Niles "OpenAI is in a tough spot," Dan Niles, founder and portfolio manager at Niles Investment Management, told CNBC in June. OpenAI is going to get squeezed between Anthropic, which is focused on enterprise customers, and Google, which is "the king in consumer," Niles said, adding that Google has plenty of cash flow to fund its ambitions. The ChatGPT-owner has rolled out managed ads feature in India, and on Sept. 4, it will launch self-serve ads. Self-serve ads are popular across many social media platforms as they allow advertisers to directly use the platform to bid for ad impressions, Chaudhry said. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

100 Million Users Will Start Seeing Ads in ChatGPT. OpenAI Says Answers Won't Change

Ahead of its highly anticipated IPO, OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT by launching advertisements on its free and tiered versions in India. On Wednesday, the company said it will start showing ads for 50 brands through a partnership with agencies like WPP and Omnicom, according to TechCrunch. "With ChatGPT Ads, businesses of every size can introduce themselves at relevant, high-context moments when decisions are beginning to take shape," Dave Dugan, head of global ads solutions at OpenAI, said in a statement, per the outlet. Users are set to have ads appear below ChatGPT responses when using the platform. According to the company, the ads being displayed will not influence ChatGPT's answers. Additionally, advertisers will not gain access to users' conversations, chat history, memories, or personal details. Instead, they will receive aggregated campaign data, such as impressions and clicks. Users will manage ad personalization and clear data used for advertising. Earlier this year, OpenAI stated that it has more than 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users in India, many of them being part of the free or low-priced Go tiers. The company is seeking to expand its presence in the country, looking to open new offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru later this year, alongside its already existing presence in New Delhi. "India is already leading the way in AI adoption, and with its homegrown tech talent, optimism about what AI can do for the country, and strong government support," said Altman in a February 2026 statement. "We're working together to build the infrastructure, skills, and local partnerships needed to build AI with India, for India, and in India." Advertising expansion India isn't the only country OpenAI is targeting.