As the AI platform expands its revenue strategy, over 50 brands are expected to join the initial rollout, and ads will be shown to eligible free and Go users.
OpenAI has now reportedly started rolling out advertisements on ChatGPT in India, bringing its advertising model to one of the company’s largest and most active markets. The rollout, announced on August 27, will initially involve more than 50 brands. The move gives advertisers access to users while they research products, compare options, and make decisions through ChatGPT. OpenAI has also opened its ad platform to businesses in India, with self-serve access scheduled to expand from September 4.
The development represents another step in OpenAI’s efforts to build revenue streams around ChatGPT as generative AI usage continues to grow.
More on who will see advertisements on ChatGPT.
The advertisements will initially be displayed to logged-in adult users on ChatGPT’s Free and Go plans. Users subscribed to Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education plans will continue to have an ad-free experience. In India, ChatGPT Go is a lower-cost subscription option that sits between the free service and higher-priced paid plans.
Ads are expected to appear separately from ChatGPT’s responses and will be labelled as sponsored content. OpenAI has said advertising will not determine or alter the answers generated by the chatbot. The company has also indicated that ads will not be placed alongside certain sensitive or regulated subjects, including areas such as politics and mental health.
Advertising agencies join the initial rollout.
OpenAI has brought major advertising groups WPP and Omnicom into the initial Indian rollout. Their involvement covers areas such as campaign planning, measurement, brand safety and execution. The participation of established advertising agencies reflects growing marketer interest in conversational AI platforms as another channel for reaching consumers.
For advertisers, ChatGPT offers a different environment from traditional search engines and social media because users often arrive with a specific question or purchasing requirement rather than simply browsing content.
Advertising marks an important development in OpenAI’s broader monetisation strategy. The company began testing advertisements in the United States earlier in 2026 and has since expanded the programme into additional international markets. OpenAI has said its advertising system is designed to keep advertisements separate from the model’s responses. It also states that advertisers cannot shape, rank or alter ChatGPT’s answers.
India’s large internet population and growing use of generative AI make the country an important market for OpenAI’s advertising expansion. The introduction of ChatGPT Ads could also influence how brands approach digital advertising, particularly as consumers increasingly use AI tools for product research and comparison.
