OpenAI will show ads to ChatGPT Free and Go users in India

OpenAI is expanding advertising on ChatGPT to India, bringing sponsored placements to users of its Free and lower-cost Go plans as the company develops advertising into a larger source of revenue.

The company is initially working with about 50 brands and advertising agencies, including WPP and Omnicom, according to TechCrunch. It also plans to make advertising tools available to marketers seeking to manage campaigns directly.

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India represents a particularly important market for OpenAI. The company said earlier this year that ChatGPT had more than 100 million weekly active users in the country, many of whom use its free or lower-priced services.

OpenAI began testing advertising with Free and Go users in the US earlier in 2026 before widening the programme to additional markets. The company says advertisements are displayed separately from ChatGPT responses and do not influence the answers generated by the assistant.

According to OpenAI’s advertising policy, advertisers do not receive access to users’ private conversations, while paid plans including Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise remain free from advertising.