OpenAI projects $2.5 billion in advertising revenue for 2026, according to a source familiar with investor presentations. The company expects revenue to reach $11 billion in 2027. It targets $100 billion in annual ad revenue by 2030. These forecasts assume OpenAI reaches 2.75 billion weekly users by the end of the decade.
The advertising shift aims to monetize users and fund high AI development costs. A U.S. pilot program reached $100 million in annualized revenue. This milestone occurred within the first six weeks of the pilot. More than 600 advertisers participated in the initial program.
The strategy positions OpenAI as a direct competitor to Google and Meta.