OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Ads to 89 Countries

What happened

According to Reuters on October 21, OpenAI said ChatGPT ads will launch in 26 new markets, bringing total coverage to 89 countries. The 14 new Latin American markets include Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru; other new markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia include Nigeria, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Advertisers can buy through technology partners or self-serve via OpenAI's Ads Manager. Ads will appear only on ChatGPT's Free and Go plans; Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions stay ad-free.

Key facts

1. Scale: 26 new countries, 89 in total; up from 63 previously (Reuters, citing OpenAI's announcement).
2. Advertiser count: More than 100,000 advertisers have run campaigns on ChatGPT since ad testing began in the US earlier this year (per OpenAI).
3. Revenue scale: OpenAI said in August its ads business had reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate.
4. New markets: 14 Latin American countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia; Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa in Africa; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan in Europe and Central Asia; Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in South and Southeast Asia.
5. Ad placement: Ads appear only on ChatGPT's Free and Go plans; Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions remain ad-free.
6. Timeline: OpenAI began testing ChatGPT ads in the US earlier this year; in September it introduced AI-powered tools for advertisers and began testing business-sponsored agents with select US advertisers.