ChatGPT Ads Surpass $1B Annual Revenue in Less Than 200 Days, Prepping for IPO
OpenAI has recently celebrated a significant achievement in its advertising sector: ChatGPT Ads has surpassed a $1 billion annual revenue run rate. This milestone was reached in under 200 days since its launch in February 2026. The company views this accomplishment as evidence of its diversified business model, as it prepares for an eagerly awaited IPO.
The advertising platform is currently operational in over 40 countries. As of Monday, OpenAI has broadened self-serve access to advertisers in India, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The platform is utilized by tens of thousands of advertisers and delivers ads to users on ChatGPT’s free tier and its Go subscription plan. OpenAI disclosed a second-quarter revenue of $6.7 billion for 2026, marking an 18% increase from the previous quarter.
Despite the swift growth, analysts point out that the company is still behind its own ambitious goals. OpenAI had forecasted $2.5 billion in ad revenue for the full year 2026, indicating there is still progress to be made. Currently valued at approximately $852 billion, the company has confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO, with a public offering anticipated as early as 2027. ChatGPT now boasts over 1 billion weekly active users, providing advertisers with access to one of the fastest-growing consumer audiences in the history of digital media.
Source: CNBC – OpenAI’s ad business shows blistering growth, hits $1 billion annualized revenue run rate