OpenAI brings ChatGPT ads to 31 European nations

OpenAI will begin showing advertisements to users of its ChatGPT chatbot in 31 European countries starting August 24, marking the largest expansion of its advertising business to date. The company announced the rollout in a blog post on August 20, stating that the ads will initially appear for users on its Free and Go subscription plans across nations including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland.

This European launch significantly broadens OpenAI's advertising reach, roughly quadrupling the number of countries where ads are active. It builds upon a pilot program that began in the United States in February and subsequently expanded to eight additional markets, including Canada, Australia, Japan, and Brazil. OpenAI described the move as a material expansion for its ad business, noting that advertising revenue has increased more than 25% since the start of August.

The decision allows OpenAI to tap into some of Europe's largest advertising markets as it seeks to diversify revenue streams beyond subscriptions and enterprise contracts. The company is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering while facing substantial operational costs to compete in...