OpenAI Takes ChatGPT Ads to Free and Go Plans in India

OpenAI is launching ChatGPT ads in India as part of its advertising program. The move offers brands a new way of reaching consumers as they use the chatbot to research and compare products. Initially, ChatGPT ads will only appear on free and Go tier logged-in accounts. OpenAI said Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education plans will remain ad-free.

How Will Sponsored Ads Appear on ChatGPT?

When relevant sponsored products or services become available, OpenAI will display ads below ChatGPT responses. The AI firm said ads will not affect responses generated by the chatbot.. ChatGPT sponsored product ads will be marked clearly and will appear separately from the answers generated by the chatbot.

Even so, OpenAI is allowing users control over ad displays. For instance, users can choose to dismiss ads or provide feedback. Additionally, users can clear data used to target ads, manage ad personalization, or check why an ad was displayed.

ChatGPT ads, which OpenAI started testing in the U.S. early this year, will not be displayed on free and Go tier accounts belonging to under-18 users. Ads will not appear alongside sensitive topics such as politics and mental health.

OpenAI said advertisers will not have access to users’ chat history, conversations, personal details, or memories. Instead, the AI firm will share aggregated campaign reports highlighting data such as clicks and impressions. OpenAI will implement policies that limit misleading claims, scams, and other forms of harmful ads.

Which Advertising Partners is OpenAI Working With in India?

WPP and Omnicom will be OpenAI’s launch partners for ChatGPT ads in India. The AI firm said their “early involvement will support a strong local ecosystem and enable advertisers to make the most of ChatGPT’s conversational environment from day one”.

According to OpenAI, over 50 brands plan to start running ads on ChatGPT in India this week. The AI firm will be providing self-serve access to ChatGPT Ads Manager in India on September 4. The move allows businesses of all sizes to create their own ad campaigns, with daily budgets starting as low as Rs. 725.

The low ChatGPT ads pricing is designed to attract small and medium sized businesses which may have never considered running ads on the conversational AI platform. OpenAI said its advertising model is aimed at expanding AI access through free and lower-cost plans while separating ads from ChatGPT responses and user conversations.

Why India Matters to OpenAI

OpenAI launched ads in India at a time when ChatGPT usage in the country is on the rise. According to the AI firm, the number of weekly active users in the country have doubled year-on-year. Increasingly, Indian users are using ChatGPT to compare products, explore options, and weigh decisions.

“India is one of the most dynamic markets in the world for how people use ChatGPT to learn, build, and discover,” OpenAI’s VP and Head of Global Ads Solutions, Dave Dugan noted as cited by The Economic Times.