ChatGPT Ads passes $1B run rate in 200 days

September 1, 2026 | Source: AI News (ainews.com)

Tags: OpenAI, ChatGPT Ads, digital advertising, DSA, VLOSE, Ads Manager, EU regulation

ChatGPT Ads crossed $1B in annualized revenue in under 200 days; OpenAI is expanding self-service Ads Manager to India, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, while the EU simultaneously designated ChatGPT a VLOSE under the Digital Services Act—triggering mandatory systemic-risk duties by January 2027.

Details

ChatGPT Ads hit $1 billion in annualized revenue run rate in under 200 days, with tens of thousands of advertisers now active and SMBs representing a material share of total revenue. Ads Manager, the self-service channel introduced in May, is expanding today to India, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa—markets that previously required going through OpenAI's managed sales team or agency partners. OpenAI's positioning frames the product as 'intent-aware' advertising: users arrive mid-decision, comparing options or planning purchases, giving advertisers higher-intent audiences than a standard display or search placement. The ecosystem around ChatGPT Ads has grown to more than 50 technology and measurement partners, and the platform is now available in more than 40 countries. At the same time, the European Commission designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE) under the Digital Services Act, placing it alongside Reddit and Roblox in the highest-oversight category. ChatGPT declared over 45 million average monthly EU users—the threshold for the designation. OpenAI now has four months (deadline: January 2027) to fulfill VLOSE duties, including systemic risk assessments and mitigation, with EU oversight applying to the same ad product expanding into Europe today.