ChatGPT opens India ad channel, with Mamaearth first and ITC, Bella Vita in view
OpenAI has begun offering sponsored ChatGPT responses in India, pitching access to 100 million weekly users. Mamaearth is the first advertiser, while ITC and Bella Vita brands are expected to follow; entry costs may initially favour larger retailers, D2C players and enterprise marketers.
What happened
OpenAI ChatGPT · OpenAI has introduced sponsored ChatGPT responses in India, targeting its 100 million weekly users. Mamaearth is the first advertiser, while
Key facts
- 50 brands have shown interest in advertising on ChatGPT
- 100 million weekly active users in India
- India digital advertising spend: Rs 94,700 crore in 2025
- Digital advertising share of total ad spend: 63%
- Google and Meta share of digital ad revenues: 64%
- Google India FY25 gross advertising revenue: Rs 34,742 crore
- Meta India FY25 advertising revenue: Rs 29,392 crore
- Meta has over 500 million WhatsApp users in India
- ChatGPT global ads revenue run-rate: $1 billion
- Minimum ChatGPT ad spend: Rs 725 per day or Rs 21,750 for 30 days
- ChatGPT CPC: $3 (around Rs 300), down from $5 (nearly Rs 500)
Why this matters
The move creates partnership and acquisition opportunities around conversational-commerce optimisation, AI ad creative, attribution and brand-safety tooling for India’s emerging ChatGPT ad ecosystem.