OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads to 26 more countries, pushing its $1B ad business ahead of a potential IPO

#What happened

OpenAI said on Wednesday it is expanding advertising on ChatGPT to 26 more countries, bringing the total to 89 markets. The expansion adds 14 more Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, alongside new markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia such as Nigeria, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. OpenAI began testing ads in ChatGPT in the US earlier this year; more than 100,000 advertisers have since run campaigns on the platform, the company said.

#Why it matters

OpenAI disclosed in August that its ads business had reached an annualized revenue run rate of $1 billion, and the expansion is explicitly aimed at boosting revenue ahead of a potential initial public offering. Ads will appear only on ChatGPT's Free and Go plans — Plus, Pro, and Enterprise subscriptions remain ad-free. Advertisers in the new markets get access through technology partners or self-service via Ads Manager. In September, OpenAI introduced AI-powered tools for advertisers and began testing business-sponsored agents with select US advertisers.

Sources:

• Reuters via Northland News Radio: https://northlandnewsradio.com/2026/10/21/openai-expands-chatgpt-ads-to-26-more-countries-in-bid-to-boost-revenue/

Verified 2026-10-21.