OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads to Pakistan and 25 more countries in bid to boost revenue

OpenAI said on Wednesday it was expanding advertising on ChatGPT to Pakistan and 25 additional countries, bringing the total number of markets where ads are available to 89, as the artificial intelligence company seeks to grow revenue ahead of a potential initial public offering.

The company said in August that its advertising business had reached an annualised revenue run rate of $1 billion.

OpenAI began testing ads on ChatGPT's Free and Go plans in the United States earlier this year. More than 100,000 advertisers have since run campaigns on the platform, the company said.

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The latest expansion includes 14 additional Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, following earlier launches in Mexico and Brazil, it outlined, adding that advertising was also launching in markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, including Nigeria, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Advertisers can access ChatGPT ads in the new markets through technology partners or use a self-service option through the company's Ads Manager platform.

The company said ads will appear only on ChatGPT's Free and Go subscription plans, while Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions will remain ad-free.

In September, OpenAI introduced artificial intelligence-powered tools for advertisers and began testing business-sponsored agents with select US advertisers, as it expands its advertising capabilities on the platform.