OpenAI expands ChatGPT advertising to 89 countries

OpenAI has announced a major expansion of its advertising business, rolling out ChatGPT ads to 26 new markets. This brings the total number of countries with advertising capabilities to 89. The new markets include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine, Cambodia, and 14 nations across Latin America such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

Advertisements will be available exclusively to users on the Free and Go plans. Premium subscriptions, including Plus, Pro, and Enterprise, will remain ad-free. OpenAI stated that the advertising process is technically separated from the AI's response generation to ensure that organic replies are not influenced by advertisers.

The company reported rapid growth in its advertising unit, noting that its annualized revenue run rate reached $1 billion by August 2026. To date, more than 100,000 advertisers have run campaigns on the platform. This expansion is viewed as a strategic move to bolster revenue ahead of a potential initial public offering (IPO).