What happened
- OpenAI began showing ads on ChatGPT’s Free and Go plans in India on Thursday, August 27, according to the company’s announcement reported by TechCrunch. Only registered users over 18 see them.
- The rollout starts with 50 brands, with WPP and Omnicom as the first partner agencies in that market.
- Ads appear below the answer, labeled as sponsored and visually separated from the generated text. The Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education plans remain ad-free.
- OpenAI told CNBC the feature already runs in 38 countries. It named the United States, Japan, Korea and 31 European countries.
- The company said it won’t show ads next to sensitive topics: health, mental health and politics.
Why it matters
- It’s the first mass advertising format that lives not in a feed or a results page but inside a conversation. The unit of purchase stops being the keyword and becomes the moment someone is deciding something.
- For anyone managing a media budget in Chile: the inventory isn’t available yet, but the metrics, formats and measurement standard are being set now, in markets where nobody from here has a seat at the table.
- The entry floor is low. In India the self-serve manager starts with daily budgets from 725 rupees, about $8. When the format reaches the region it won’t be a channel reserved for big advertisers, and that changes who needs to learn to buy it.
The number
38 countries have active advertising inside ChatGPT. None of those OpenAI has named publicly is in Latin America.
Context
In January 2026 OpenAI announced the first ad tests for U.S. users, and this month it extended the program to Europe. India is its second market: the company reported more than 100 million weekly active users there in February. All of this is happening while it prepares a possible IPO.
What’s next
- September 4: the self-serve ChatGPT Ads Manager becomes available in India, with a minimum daily budget of 725 rupees.
- New formats and buying objectives announced, with no date.
- No timelines announced for Chile or the rest of the region.
Bottom line
In 2024 Sam Altman described advertising inside ChatGPT as a last resort. Two years later it’s the revenue lever the company is showcasing before going public.