The short version
ChatGPT Ads moved from a US test to a wider product and advertiser rollout during 2026. OpenAI has published several dated milestones, but its country availability page changes over time and does not provide a dated opening event for every market. As checked on 27 October 2026, Pakistan appears on the self-service Ads Manager country list.
That is advertiser-side access. It does not mean ads are already shown to every ChatGPT user in Pakistan. OpenAI describes the user experience as a gradual rollout to eligible Free and Go users in selected regions.
Confirmed milestones
| Date | What OpenAI announced or documented |
|---|---|
| 9 February 2026 | OpenAI says its ChatGPT Ads test began in the United States. |
| May 2026 | OpenAI later reported that Ads Manager was introduced in May, opening the platform to more small and medium-sized businesses. |
| 31 August 2026 | OpenAI announced self-service expansion across India, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The announcement names regions rather than giving a launch date for each country. |
| 16 September 2026 | OpenAI announced tests of Sponsored Agents with select US advertisers, new AI tools for ad creation and campaign work through its Ads Manager plugin, plus integrations involving HubSpot and Shopify. The announcement specifies US availability for the Shopify merchant app. |
| 27 October 2026 | In a current-table check, Pakistan is listed for self-service Ads Manager. This is a snapshot date, not a claim that Pakistan opened on that day. |
What is available in Pakistan?
OpenAI’s current Ads Manager table lists Pakistan for self-service access. OpenAI says the legal entity that advertises and receives the bill must be based in a listed country. Account creation alone does not guarantee eligibility, approval or campaign delivery.
User-side ad exposure is a separate rollout. OpenAI says ads may appear for eligible Free and Go users in selected regions; it does not promise that every account or every response will show an ad. Check the live Ads Manager country list for advertiser access and the separate user FAQ for the experience people may see.
What is still changing?
OpenAI labels Ads Manager as a beta product and says capabilities continue to evolve. Its September announcement describes Sponsored Agents as a test with selected advertisers in the United States. The same announcement describes new campaign tools and integrations, but does not say every feature is available to every account or market.
For that reason, this guide distinguishes an announcement, a test, a current help-page description and a country-table snapshot. A feature appearing in documentation today is not evidence that it launched on the same date as a related announcement.
How to use this timeline
Before making a market or budget decision, confirm the live country table, the legal entity and billing requirements shown for your account, current ad policies, and the controls available in Ads Manager. Keep a record of the date you checked them. If you are already running a campaign, use the account’s live settings and official change notices instead of assuming an older guide reflects the current interface.
For Pakistan-specific advertiser steps, see ChatGPT Ads availability in Pakistan, how to advertise on ChatGPT and what businesses can advertise.
Quick answers
When did the ChatGPT Ads test begin?
OpenAI says the test started in the United States on 9 February 2026.
When did Pakistan open for Ads Manager self-service?
OpenAI’s live country table currently lists Pakistan, but the page does not provide a dated Pakistan opening announcement. This guide records the status checked on 27 October 2026.
Does advertiser access mean users in Pakistan see ads?
No. Advertiser access and user-side rollout are different. OpenAI says ads are gradually rolling out to eligible users in selected regions.
Are all announced features available in Pakistan?
Not necessarily. OpenAI may describe a test or feature without making it available to every account or market. Check the current product documentation and your account.
Is Ads Manager a finished product?
OpenAI calls it a beta and says it will continue to evolve.
Official sources
Research snapshot: 27 October 2026. The source site’s timeline included third-party dates and account-specific observations; this adaptation omits those claims.