ChatGPT Ads Launch in Taiwan: Free and Go Users See Them Below Answers

From 10 a.m. Taiwan time on September 24, 2026, OpenAI began rolling out ChatGPT ads in seven markets: Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Ads appear only on the Free and Go plans, below answers, and are clearly labeled. For Taiwanese SMEs, ChatGPT now has a place where you can pay for exposure. But OpenAI says ads don't affect answers, so whether AI mentions you in its answers is a separate matter.

1. What happened

According to INSIDE's September 24 report, ads appear only for users aged 18 and over on the Free and Go plans, and the Plus, Pro and Enterprise plans show no ads. Marketing-Interactive reported the same day that Plus, Pro and Enterprise users stay ad-free. Before Taiwan, ads had already launched in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and India.

Both reports say ads are kept separate from ChatGPT's answers and clearly labeled. OpenAI says ads do not influence answers, conversations are not shared with advertisers, and customer data is not sold. INSIDE also reported that when choosing ads, the system reads the ad creative and the text on the landing page to judge relevance, and that ads don't appear for every question.

Advertisers can buy through OpenAI's ads team, partner ad agencies, or the self-serve Ads Manager. According to the reports, eligible small businesses and startups can create and manage campaigns themselves at ads.openai.com.

2. What it means for SMEs in Taiwan

Our view: ChatGPT now offers two kinds of exposure. One is paid ads below the answer; the other is AI mentioning you within the answer itself, which OpenAI says ads don't affect. Shops on a tight budget can start by understanding the second: when a customer asks ChatGPT for good group-dinner restaurants in Taichung, are you in the answer?

If you try ads later, remember the system reads landing page text to judge relevance. The more clearly your website states your services, area and business details, the easier it is for both the ad system and AI to understand you. Also, only Free and Go users see ads, not every ChatGPT user.

3. What you can do now

• Check how ChatGPT currently answers common questions in your field, and whether it mentions you or someone else.
• Spell out your services, service area, opening hours and contact details on your website, consistent with your Google Business Profile.
• If you want to try ads, first check whether your company qualifies for Ads Manager and start small; costs follow official announcements.
• Decide which number to watch first, such as inquiries that came from ChatGPT, rather than impressions alone.
• When customers click through from an ad or an AI answer, make sure someone answers on LINE or your form, and replies quickly.

The short version

ChatGPT ads are live in Taiwan and add a paid channel, but whether you appear in AI answers still depends on a clear, consistent website and business information.