OpenAI has extended advertising in ChatGPT to Thailand. On 23 September 2026, the company said businesses can now buy ads in ChatGPT in seven more markets in Asia: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Taiwan. That brings the service to more than 60 countries, according to ppc.land and ContentGrip. People on the Free and Go plans may see ads. Users of Plus, Pro and Enterprise will not.
OpenAI's announcement did not say when users in Thailand will see the first ads. It also has not announced a price for the Go plan in Thailand. For now, all that is confirmed is that Thailand is on the list of markets where businesses can buy ads.
How ChatGPT ads spread from the US to Thailand
OpenAI announced a test of ads on 16 January 2026, starting with adult users in the United States on free accounts, SiliconAngle reported. Ads began appearing in the US on 9 February 2026, according to MacRumors.
The rollout has since moved in stages outside the US. TechCrunch reported that ads reached Europe in August 2026, and OpenAI announced plans to show ads in India on 27 August. The 23 September round, which includes Thailand, covers Southeast Asia and Taiwan. ppc.land says ads were already live in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and India.
OpenAI has opened one region at a time, starting with large markets that have advertisers ready. Thailand's place in the latest round means businesses here can buy ads. When users will actually see them has not been announced.
Who sees ads, and what OpenAI has promised
Ads are limited to the Free and Go plans. Users on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education do not see ads, as MacRumors summarised from OpenAI's announcement at the US launch. ppc.land reported that Plus, Pro and Enterprise users are also ad-free in the Asian round.
On privacy, SiliconAngle reported that OpenAI has promised not to share users' conversations with advertisers. Users can dismiss ads they do not want and send feedback. They can also turn off ad personalisation.
These details come from the US launch in 2026. OpenAI's Asia announcement did not say whether the new markets use ad personalisation in the same way. It is therefore not confirmed that users in Thailand will get exactly the same terms. Check the settings page in the app once ads start appearing here.
How businesses can advertise in ChatGPT
ppc.land reported three ways to buy ads: through OpenAI's Ads Solutions team, through agencies and technology partners, or directly through the Ads Manager tool, which was available from day one. Businesses that buy directly must be legal entities based in a listed country. The agencies named include dentsu, Havas Media, Omnicom Media, Publicis Groupe and WPP.
ppc.land also reported that Shopee has widened its partnership with OpenAI to Southeast Asia and Taiwan. OpenAI said tens of thousands of businesses already advertise in ChatGPT. For Thai businesses, the announcement does not state a minimum budget or the currency used for billing in the new markets.
What to do if you use ChatGPT in Thailand
Free plan users should expect to see ads in the near future. If you do not want ads tailored to your personal data, turn off that setting, which OpenAI says is possible. If you see an ad that is not relevant, you can dismiss it and send feedback. If you want no ads at all, you could upgrade to a plan without them, such as Plus or Pro.
Some users worry that an AI service could sell their private information. OpenAI's pledge is that it will not share chat content with advertisers. That pledge comes from the company itself. If you discuss personal matters or confidential work in ChatGPT, choose a plan and settings that match the level of risk you can accept. Also watch for OpenAI announcements on whether the terms in Thailand match those in the US.
Source: OpenAI (announcement of ChatGPT ads expansion to Southeast Asia and Taiwan, 23 September 2026), as reported by ppc.land and ContentGrip; MacRumors (9 February 2026); SiliconAngle (16 January 2026); TechCrunch (27 August 2026).
This article is adapted from ViewNews' Thai-language report.
