OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Ads to 26 More Countries, 89 Total

Quick Answer: OpenAI is switching on ChatGPT ads in 26 more countries — including Pakistan, Argentina, Nigeria, South Africa and Ukraine — taking the total to 89. The ads show only to users on the Free and Go plans; Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions stay ad-free. The company says more than 100,000 advertisers have now run campaigns.

OpenAI said on Wednesday it was expanding advertising on ChatGPT to 26 more countries, including Pakistan, bringing the total number of markets where ChatGPT ads run to 89. The announcement, reported by Reuters, comes as the AI company beefs up its advertising business to boost revenue ahead of a potential initial public offering.

OpenAI began testing ads in ChatGPT in the US earlier this year. The company said in August that the ads business had reached a $1 billion annualised run rate, and that more than 100,000 advertisers have since run campaigns on the platform.

A Google data centre facility in The Dalles, Oregon — A data centre in The Dalles, Oregon — server farms like this one power the AI services hundreds of millions of people use every day. File photo: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

ChatGPT ads: the 26 new countries

The expansion adds 14 more Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, following earlier launches in Mexico and Brazil. Ads are also launching across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, including Nigeria, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Pakistan, Reuters reported. Together, the 26 additions take the total number of markets where ChatGPT ads run to 89.

Who sees the ads — and who doesn't

Ads will appear only on ChatGPT's Free and Go plans, while Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions will remain ad-free.

For advertisers, the new markets open two buying routes: through OpenAI's technology partners, or self-service access via Ads Manager on the company's platform.

A rack of servers inside a data centre. OpenAI's ads business is meant to help pay for the enormous computing costs behind ChatGPT's free tier. File photo: Wil Weterings, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The $1 billion ads business

The company said in August that the ads business had reached an annualised revenue run rate of $1 billion. It gave no updated revenue figure in Wednesday's announcement.

In September, OpenAI introduced AI-powered tools for advertisers and began testing business-sponsored agents with select US advertisers.

Canary Wharf, London's financial district. OpenAI is building its advertising business as it prepares for a possible stock-market listing. File photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Why it matters

The announcement is the latest sign of OpenAI turning ChatGPT's free audience into revenue ahead of a potential initial public offering — the company said in August the ads business was already running at $1 billion a year. For readers, the practical change is simple: free users in 26 more countries — including Pakistan — will start seeing ads, while subscribers on Plus, Pro and Enterprise plans won't.

What happens next

OpenAI said advertisers in the new markets can buy through technology partners or self-service via Ads Manager. The next number to watch is whether the company updates that $1 billion run rate — a fresh figure would show how fast the ads business is actually growing outside the US.

Key Takeaways

OpenAI said on Wednesday, October 21, that ChatGPT ads are expanding to 26 more countries — including Pakistan — bringing the total to 89.
Fourteen of the new markets are in Latin America and the Caribbean; the rest span Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Ads appear only on the Free and Go plans; Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions stay ad-free.
More than 100,000 advertisers have run campaigns; the ads business hit a $1 billion annualised run rate in August.
Advertisers in the new markets can buy through technology partners or self-service via Ads Manager.
The expansion comes as OpenAI beefs up its advertising business ahead of a potential initial public offering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries just got ChatGPT ads?

OpenAI named Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru among 14 new Latin American markets, plus Nigeria, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Pakistan across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia — 26 additions in all, taking the total to 89 countries.

Does everyone on ChatGPT see ads now?

No. Ads appear only for users on the Free and Go plans. Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions remain ad-free.

How many advertisers use ChatGPT ads?

More than 100,000 have run campaigns on the platform, OpenAI said — the company began testing ads in the US earlier this year.

How much money does OpenAI make from ads?

OpenAI said in August that the ads business had reached an annualised revenue run rate of $1 billion. It gave no updated revenue figure in Wednesday's announcement.

How can businesses buy ChatGPT ads in the new markets?

Advertisers can access ChatGPT ads in the new markets through OpenAI's technology partners, or get self-service access via Ads Manager on the company's platform. In September, OpenAI also introduced AI-powered tools for advertisers.

Is OpenAI going public?

Reuters described the expansion as boosting revenue "ahead of a potential initial public offering." The company has not confirmed IPO plans or a date in the announcements reported so far.

What are business-sponsored agents?

OpenAI said in September it began testing business-sponsored agents with select US advertisers — a new commercial format inside ChatGPT beyond standard ads.

By GlobalDeskNews Staff | October 21, 2026

Sources

Reuters, "OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads to 26 more countries in bid to boost revenue," October 21, 2026 — via Dawn and Channel News Asia