What is ChatGPT Ads? Now available for Thai businesses to advertise — including cost, how to get started, and services from HelloAds.

Two days ago, OpenAI announced that ChatGPT Ads have rolled out in Thailand, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Taiwan. This brings the total number of ChatGPT ads available for purchase to over 60 countries. This article, based entirely on OpenAI's official documentation, answers the most frequently asked question from Thai brands this week: What is it? Who sees it? How much does it cost? How is it different from Google Ads? And how do I get started?

What are ChatGPT Ads?

ChatGPT Ads are an OpenAI advertising format that displays an advertising card labeled “Sponsored” below a ChatGPT answer. When the system determines that a conversation is related to a product or service offered by the advertiser, a card is generated containing the business name, logo, headline, description, image, and a link to the brand's webpage. OpenAI explicitly states that the ads operate on a separate system from the question-answering model; advertisers cannot determine, rank, or modify ChatGPT answers, and they do not see the user's conversation.

The difference from traditional search ads is: The signals used to select advertisements are not keywords, but rather the context and intent of the entire conversation. Along with the landing page, headline, description, and “context hints” that advertisers write to the system about what type of conversation the ad is best suited for, if multiple ads meet the criteria, the system ranks them based on relevance in conjunction with the bid price.

When will it launch in Thailand, and who has seen the advertisement?

OpenAI began testing advertising in the US on February 9, 2026, expanding to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in March, followed by the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, India, and 31 European countries in August. Thailand and five other ASEAN markets, plus Taiwan, on September 23, 2026. Expanding to more than 60 countries within seven months, OpenAI also stated that the advertising platform generated $1 billion in annual revenue in less than 200 days after its launch and had tens of thousands of advertisers.

Who saw the advertisement? Only users with the Free and Go packages who are identified as 18 years or older will see the ads. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu users will not see the ads. Ads will also not appear in Temporary Chats or near sensitive topics such as health, mental health, and politics. This means your ads will reach a large audience of general users using the free ChatGPT service, which is the largest demographic on the platform.

Why Thai brands should pay attention now.

The first reason is the size of the user base. OpenAI announced on February 27, 2026, that ChatGPT had 900 million weekly users, up from 400 million a year earlier and 800 million by October 2025, with only 50 million paying subscribers. This means that the majority of users are on the free, ad-supported package.

The second reason is... The rhythm of intention. OpenAI explains that people ask ChatGPT questions while planning a trip, choosing software for their business, or renovating their home—the phase where they're comparing options and nearing a decision, unlike social media where people scroll without intending to buy.

The third reason is... The competition is still low. OpenAI itself states in its Help Center that the platform is still in beta and there are no industry benchmarks available. Brands that start collecting data will have an advantage in understanding which customer conversations translate into sales. To be honest, the results are not guaranteed yet because there are no market figures for Thailand. Therefore, we recommend starting with a testing budget before scaling up.

Business Opportunity: Why Brands That Start ChatGPT Ads Early Gain an Increasing Advantage.

OpenAI's official figures provide a clear picture that ChatGPT Ads is no small lane: out of 900 million weekly users, only 50 million are paying subscribers. This means that... Approximately 94% users are on the Free and Go packages, which are advertised accessible. While the global advertiser side still stands at "tens of thousands" in over 60 countries, this is a state that Google Ads or Meta Ads hasn't been in for a long time.

1. Capture customers when competitors haven't yet.

Many people start asking ChatGPT questions before even opening Google or social media, such as "Which option is better with this budget?" or "What are the pros and cons of these two options?" These kinds of conversations don't provide keywords for Google Ads to bid on, but they have a "deliberate" purpose for ChatGPT Ads to capture. Brands appearing here will be the first option in the customer's mind before they even reach the search results page.

2. The testing cost is so low that there's no reason to wait.

With a minimum budget of 33 baht per day, businesses can allocate just a few thousand to tens of thousands of baht per month for testing purposes. Over 2-4 weeks, they can determine what type of customer conversation generates leads and how the cost per lead compares to Google or Meta. This knowledge is more valuable than the budget itself, as it can be used to make informed decisions about larger budgets.

3. Gained new insights that were not available through previous channels.

Setting up ad groups based on “conversation context” and seeing which groups get clicks and conversions tells you how customers describe their problem before buying. This information can be immediately used to tailor web pages, content, and even sales scripts.

4. The more you do, the more advantages you accumulate.

The platform supports Conversions objectives, custom audiences, and measurement via Pixel and Conversions API. This means that the more conversion data and customer lists a brand accumulates, the more accurately the system can optimize ad delivery. Brands that start earlier will have data first, and during periods with fewer advertisers, the pressure from bidding is lower than when the market is crowded.

5. It contains both "answers" and "advertisements" on a single page.

When combined with the SEO/GEO AI, which enables ChatGPT referencing of a brand's website in responses, the brand will appear in two places within a single conversation: in the response and in the ad card below the response. And with Sponsored Agents, which allow clients to interact with the brand's AI representative, becoming widely available, brands with existing accounts, campaign history, and conversion data will be ready to use it first.

What type of business will benefit the fastest?

A three-phase expansion plan as ChatGPT Ads are implemented more frequently.

A word of caution to every client: The figures above are a framework, not a guarantee of results, as OpenAI itself does not yet have a benchmark for the Thai market. What we do guarantee is that you will know the answers for your business within one month, within a controlled budget.

How do ChatGPT Ads differ from Google Ads and Meta Ads?

Practical conclusion: ChatGPT Ads don't replace Google or Meta, but rather serve as a third channel for capturing customers during the "inquiry-to-decision" phase, which was previously difficult for brands to reach.

Costs and methods for purchasing advertising on ChatGPT.

According to the OpenAI Help Center documentation updated in September 2026, advertising purchases have the following components:

1. Open an account at ads.openai.com. On behalf of businesses, after identity verification and payment setup, some new self-serve accounts will initially only be able to advertise in the account's home country until identity verification is complete and spending criteria are met.
2. Select the campaign objective. There are three payment types: Views (paid per 1,000 views, CPM), Clicks (paid per click, CPC), and Conversions (system-adjusted sending to conversions where payment is still based on clicks or views, not per conversion, at-CPC/oCPM).
3. Set a budget. For daily or entire campaigns, the minimum daily budget for Thai Baht accounts is 33 Baht. The system may spend up to twice the daily budget in a single day, but no more than seven times in one week (Sunday to Saturday).
4. Set goals Select a country, and in many countries, you can select a regional, city, or zip code. Choose a platform (Android/iOS app, mobile web, desktop web) and use your brand's custom audience when you have at least 25,000 users matched.
5. Create an ad group and ads. Write context hints to tell the system what kind of conversation is suitable for this ad, then prepare the headline, description, image, and landing page. Every ad must be reviewed before being displayed.
6. Measurement Using OpenAI Pixel or the Conversions API and connecting external measurement tools, the reports provide aggregated figures such as impressions and clicks; they do not include individual data.

What's missing from official documentation is the average cost per click (CPC) for the Thai market. OpenAI explicitly states that there's no benchmark, and results depend on the objective, creative, landing page, and relevance. The CPC figures seen in the media are therefore estimates from other markets; it's best to use your own testing budget as a reliable reference.

Limitations you need to know before advertising.

• The platform is in beta. OpenAI reports that ad delivery systems, formats, and tools will change along the way, and ad distribution and budget spending may fluctuate.
• There are no ads near sensitive topics. For example, personal health, mental health, politics, and not accepting political advertising. Businesses in regulated categories such as finance and healthcare must meet stricter qualification criteria.
• No user information was obtained. Advertisers don't see user conversations, history, or memories; they only get aggregate reports. Therefore, strategies must rely on context hints and landing pages that answer the questions of those comparing products, rather than individual retargeting.
• Sponsored Agents are not yet generally available. The format that allows users to interact with an AI representative of a brand within the ad window, which OpenAI launched on September 16, 2026, is still in alpha phase and available only to selected advertisers.
• ChatGPT's answer is not for purchase. For ChatGPT to "recommend" your brand in responses, it must come from the content and credibility of your website (AI side work SEO/GEO), not from advertising. These two can be done together, but they are separate systems.

HelloAds offers ChatGPT Ads creation services.

HelloAds has been providing advertising planning and management services on ChatGPT for Thai businesses since the platform's launch in the country. We use the same team that has managed Google Ads and Meta Ads for over 100 brands over the past 10 years. As a Google Partner and Meta Partner, our comprehensive service includes:

1. Analyze your customers' conversations. It analyzes what people ask ChatGPT before purchasing certain types of products, then translates that into a set of context hints and advertising messages that align with their purchasing decisions.
2. Open and set up an Ads Manager account on behalf of your business. Select appropriate budget objectives and provincial-level targets for the service area.
3. Create creative content and landing pages. This answers the question of those who are making comparisons, because OpenAI's system uses the content on the target page as a signal to select advertisements.
4. Install measurement tools. OpenAI Pixel and the Conversions API connect to GA4 to show where leads and sales are coming from.
5. Test and expand Start with a trial budget, read weekly results, then gradually increase to targeted budgets for proven results, working in conjunction with our services. AI SEO / GEO To ensure the brand appears in both the answers and the advertisements.

Frequently Asked Questions about ChatGPT Ads

Is ChatGPT Ads available for Thai businesses yet?

OpenAI is now open! The service will launch in Thailand on September 23, 2026, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Taiwan. It will be accessible through OpenAI's Ads Solutions team, partner agencies, or the self-serve Ads Manager for eligible businesses.

How much does it cost to advertise on ChatGPT?

The minimum daily budget for accounts paid in Thai Baht is 33 Baht, according to OpenAI's Minimum Campaign Spend table. The actual cost per click depends on the bidding and relevance. OpenAI has not yet published a benchmark for the Thai market.

Does advertising on ChatGPT affect the responses provided by ChatGPT?

OpenAI doesn't specify that the ads operate on a system separate from the model; advertisers cannot determine or modify the answers. The ads are labeled "Sponsored" and are clearly separate from the answers.

Who will see our advertisement?

ChatGPT Free and Go package users aged 18 and over in your target country will not see ads. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu users will not see ads, and ads will not appear in Temporary Chat.

What are the differences between ChatGPT Ads and AI SEO/GEO?

ChatGPT Ads involves purchasing ad card space below answers, while AI SEO/GEO focuses on making brand content credible enough for the AI to reference the answers itself. The first approach starts immediately and stops when payments cease; the latter takes time but accumulates. Successful brands often combine both.

What types of businesses are suitable for ChatGPT Ads right now?

Businesses where customers frequently seek advice or comparisons before purchasing include professional services, software, travel, education, products requiring selective specifications, and online stores. Businesses in regulatory sectors, such as finance and healthcare, can only participate if they meet OpenAI's criteria.

References

• OpenAI — ChatGPT Ads expands to Southeast Asia and Taiwan (23 Sep 2026)
• OpenAI — Testing ads in ChatGPT (February 9, 2026 to August 11, 2026)
• OpenAI — ChatGPT Ads expands across Europe (18 Aug 2026)
• OpenAI Help Center — Create Campaigns for ChatGPT Ads (objective, minimum budget per currency, targeting)
• OpenAI Help Center — Ads in ChatGPT (Who sees the ads, how to choose ads, privacy)
• OpenAI Help Center — ChatGPT Ads FAQ (beta status)
• OpenAI Help Center — Sponsored Agents (alpha)
• TechCrunch — ChatGPT reaches 900M weekly active users (Feb. 27, 2026)
• Adweek — OpenAI opens ChatGPT Ads to self-service platform (May 2026)