OpenAI has started showing ads to select ChatGPT users in India as it looks to expand monetisation while supporting wider access to its AI platform.
Ads are being introduced for free users and subscribers to the ₹399 ($4) per month ChatGPT Go plan. The company said advertising will help support “broader access to ChatGPT through free and lower-cost tiers.”
The ad feature is already live in 38 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Korea and 31 European nations. OpenAI described India as one of its largest and most active markets and said it aims to “learn from users and advertisers while protecting the experience that made ChatGPT valuable in the first place.”
Users who identify as under 18, or are predicted by the algorithm to be under 18, will not see ads.
OpenAI is planning to go public in 2027 and faces pressure to support its $852 billion valuation. Monetisation through advertising could help cover part of the cost of generating responses and reduce losses. Unlike Anthropic, which generates a larger share of its revenue from enterprise customers, OpenAI has a stronger individual consumer base.
Analysts said advertising is an effective way to monetise consumers at scale. Online ads account for more than 75% of global advertising spending, valued at $1.18 trillion, while in-app advertising represents a $400 billion market.
OpenAI said ads will be “clearly labeled, visually separate and shown below the response,” while “Answer independence is non-negotiable.”
The move contrasts with Anthropic’s approach, which has said its Claude chatbot will remain ad-free, with no sponsored links or third-party product placements influencing its answers.
OpenAI has launched managed advertising in India, while self-serve ads are scheduled to launch on Sept. 4. The self-serve model will allow advertisers to directly bid for ad impressions, similar to advertising systems used by several social media platforms.
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