OpenAI plans to display ads in India for ChatGPT's free edition and Go subscription level, mainly for lower or unpaid users. India has become a significant growth market for ChatGPT, and this move shows that OpenAI is continuing to advance product realization.
The size of Indian users has become a critical foundation.
OpenAI said in February this year that ChatGPT has more than 100 million weekly active users in India. A large proportion of these users are concentrated on free versions and lower-priced Go layers, which also provides a direct flow basis for advertising patterns.
Over the past year, OpenAI has continued to increase its input in India. In August 2025, the company launched the ChatGPT Go programme, which is worth less than $5, and has been extended over time to allow this level to be used free of charge for one year to expand user coverage.
We'll expand the users and then drive the cash.
In addition to the price strategy, OpenAI continues to promote branding locally. Its products have been brought to the fore during sports events such as the Indian Women's Cricket Super League, WPL, and the Indian Cricket Super League, IPL, to raise awareness through high-flow scenarios.
The company also recently hired Uber, the head of Indian operations, to cover local expansion. In combination with the introduction of advertising and management adjustments, the Indian market has become more important, not only as a source of growth for users, but also as a more explicit income task.
IPO expects the income structure to continue to expand
As the potential first public collection unit approaches, OpenAI is accelerating the consolidation of revenue sources. Previously, the market had focused on its subscriptions, business services and API operations, while advertising was seen as a new and complementary direction that was particularly appropriate to cover large-scale low-cost users.
According to the Wall Street Journal, as of the second quarter of June 2026, the OpenAI battalion had received $6.7 billion, up from $5.7 billion in the previous quarter. As the number of users continues to grow, companies are trying to translate the flow advantage into more stable business returns.