OpenAI put ChatGPT ads in front of users in 26 more countries on October 21, lifting its ad-supported tier to 89 markets. The ads run only on the Free and Go plans. Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscribers still see none.

gHacks Tech News and Securities.io both reported the expansion [1][2]. The country list and key figures come from those two outlets rather than an OpenAI post, and several details rest on a single report.

The move matters because advertising pays for the free product. OpenAI is now running the same model in 89 countries, and it is pitching the ad platform to local businesses and regional brands as well as multinational companies [1]. For most American users, the answer to what they see depends on which plan they pay for.

Which countries are getting ChatGPT ads

The expansion adds 14 Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, according to gHacks [1]. The other new markets span Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Named additions include Nigeria, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Pakistan [1].

The rollout has come in stages. Ads first launched in Mexico and Brazil, followed by recent rollouts across Europe, Southeast Asia and Taiwan [1]. This announcement widens the map again. The sources do not confirm launch dates for individual countries, so the 89 figure should not be read as meaning every market went live on the same day.

Who sees ads and who stays ad-free

Ads appear only on the Free and Go plans. OpenAI's Plus, Pro and Enterprise subscriptions remain ad-free, according to gHacks [1]. The line follows the subscription ladder. Individuals who pay for Plus or Pro, and organizations on Enterprise, avoid ads, while people on Free and Go see them.

Advertisers have been busy. OpenAI says more than 100,000 advertisers have run campaigns in ChatGPT since ads launched just over eight months ago [1][2]. That figure suggests the program has moved beyond a limited test, though the sources do not break advertisers down by country or company size.

The sources give no pricing for the new markets and do not explain how targeting works there. Marketers who want to compare costs across countries will need OpenAI's own ad documentation, which the sources do not link.

Is ChatGPT showing ads in the US

Yes, for users on the Free and Go plans. The announcements describe the expansion as extending the program overseas rather than changing US terms [1][2]. The sources do not say whether US ad targeting options change, and they describe no new rules for American advertisers or users.

The eight state lawsuits running alongside the expansion

On October 14, eight states sued OpenAI in their own state courts. The plaintiffs are Iowa, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia. They allege the company misled users about ChatGPT's safety [3][4][5], and the suits seek damages, civil penalties and product changes [4][5].

One requested order would bar OpenAI from building self-improving models until they are shown to follow human values [4][5]. That request reaches well past typical consumer product rules, and no court has ruled on it yet [9][5].

Florida's attorney general filed the first state suit against OpenAI in June [5]. The Daily Star, citing other coverage, called the coordinated state complaints the most significant state action against an AI company so far [7]. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird put the case bluntly in a statement: "OpenAI is hurting kids and they are lying to Iowans." [6]

The lawsuits are background to the ad expansion, not a cause of it. None of the sources reviewed ties the two together, and none says the suits will change ChatGPT's ad business.

OpenAI's response is documented unevenly. Early coverage said the company had not issued a public response [3][7]. TechRepublic reported that OpenAI points to parental controls and break reminders [9]. Readers should treat that defense as secondhand, because the sources do not include a direct company statement on the suits.

How to avoid ChatGPT ads and what to check first

The sources support a few concrete steps and leave some gaps.

  • Check your plan. Ads appear on Free and Go, so if you use either, expect to see ads in any of the 89 markets where the program runs.
  • To go ad-free, subscribe to Plus, Pro or Enterprise. The announcement says those tiers remain ad-free [1].
  • Do not assume a setting exists to hide ads on Free or Go. The sources describe none, so confirm with OpenAI before counting on a toggle.
  • If you are a parent, review parental controls. OpenAI cites them in its defense against the state suits [9]. The sources do not explain how to set them up, so check OpenAI's help materials directly.
  • If your business is considering ChatGPT ads, wait for pricing and targeting details for your market before committing budget.

What to watch next

The first thing to watch is country-level detail. The sources reviewed do not confirm launch dates for each market, and questions about targeting and pricing remain open. A direct OpenAI post that answers those points would carry more weight than any secondary report.

The legal track moves on a separate timeline. The eight states need court rulings on requests such as the bar on self-improving model work, and the sources include no ruling date. For context on the money behind OpenAI's growth, see our report on the company's near $30 billion funding round OpenAI Nears $30B Raise at $1.25 Trillion Valuation. Anthropic's draft IPO filing offers another view of how AI firms' finances look, with $16.3 billion in revenue and an $80.7 billion loss, mostly non-cash Anthropic's IPO Draft: $16.3B Revenue, $80.7B Loss.