AI ads timeline

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36 dated changes, newest first. Each entry links to the announcement or report it comes from.

  1. Google AI Mode

    Google AI Mode ads expand to 10 more countries

    Ads in AI Mode expanded to Australia, Canada, India, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Singapore. Multiturn ads launched in the US; Brazil, Mexico and the UK are planned for Q4.12

  2. ChatGPT

    ChatGPT ads expand to 89 countries

    OpenAI added 26 countries, including 14 in Latin America, and said more than 100,000 advertisers have run campaigns since launch.345

  3. ChatGPT

    Visual ads during image generation announced

    OpenAI said it would test clearly labeled visual ads shown during ChatGPT image generation in the US, kept separate from generated images.6

  4. ChatGPT

    OpenAI names measurement partners and brand-suitability pilots

    OpenAI named conversion, attribution and incrementality partners including LiveRamp, AppsFlyer, Adjust, Branch and Haus, and pilots with DoubleVerify and IAS to evaluate its safeguards.78

  5. ChatGPT

    ChatGPT ads reach Southeast Asia and Taiwan

    Ads launched in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan; OpenAI described availability as more than 60 countries.95

  6. ChatGPT

    OpenAI tests Sponsored Agents

    Users who click some ads can start a separate, labeled conversation with a business-sponsored agent. OpenAI also added AI tools for advertisers and HubSpot and Shopify integrations.1011

  7. ChatGPT

    Self-serve Ads Manager opens beyond the US

    OpenAI opened self-serve buying across India, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and said ads were rolling out in select Middle East and North Africa countries. A $1 billion annualized ad run rate was also reported around this time.121314

  8. ChatGPT

    ChatGPT ads expand to 31 European countries

    OpenAI's largest single expansion brought ads to Free and Go users in 31 European markets, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Poland and the Netherlands.515

  9. Microsoft Copilot

    AI Max rolls out to all Microsoft Advertising accounts

    Microsoft began rolling out AI Max to all advertiser accounts globally, tied to conversational queries on Bing and Copilot (reported).16

  10. ChatGPT

    OpenAI confirms ads in five more countries

    OpenAI updated its ads post to say ads had launched in the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Japan and South Korea. Mexico and Brazil were separately reported live on August 17.1718

  11. ChatGPT

    ChatGPT ads reach Japan and South Korea

    Ads were reported live in Japan and South Korea, the first non-English markets, with UK self-serve opening the same day.5

  12. Amazon Rufus

    Amazon Ads sets out ad formats for Alexa for Shopping

    Amazon listed sponsored ads within conversations and Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands prompts, and said existing sponsored ads campaigns are automatically eligible.19

  13. ChatGPT

    ChatGPT ads go live in the UK

    OpenAI's VP of monetization announced UK ads were live. UK self-serve buying followed on June 22 (reported).205

  14. Google AI Mode

    Google tests new ad formats inside AI Mode

    Google announced Conversational Discovery ads and Highlighted Answers, testing in the US in English, and expanded its Direct Offers pilot.212223

  15. Amazon Rufus

    Amazon merges Rufus into Alexa for Shopping

    Amazon combined Rufus and Alexa+ into a single shopping assistant, Alexa for Shopping, for US customers.24

  16. ChatGPT

    UK, Mexico, Brazil, Japan and South Korea named as next markets

    OpenAI said its ads pilot would expand to five more countries in the coming weeks.1725

  17. ChatGPT

    OpenAI launches self-serve Ads Manager with CPC bidding

    US businesses could sign up and buy ChatGPT ads directly. OpenAI added CPC bidding alongside CPM, plus a Conversions API and pixel, and named agency and technology partners.2627

  18. Gemini app

    Google signals AI Mode ad formats could come to Gemini

    On Alphabet's Q1 earnings call, Google's chief business officer said a format that works well in AI Mode would transfer to the Gemini app, while saying Google is not rushing.2829

  19. Microsoft Copilot

    Microsoft announces AI Max for Search and Offer Highlights

    Microsoft Advertising said AI Max would open as a pilot in May, expanding ad matching across Copilot and Bing, and introduced Offer Highlights for AI conversations.3031

  20. ChatGPT

    ChatGPT ads live in Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    OpenAI's release notes confirmed ads rolling out to Free and Go users in the three markets.3233

  21. ChatGPT

    OpenAI plans first markets outside the US

    OpenAI said early results were encouraging and that pilots in Canada, Australia and New Zealand would start in the coming weeks.1734

  22. Amazon Rufus

    Rufus Sponsored Prompts reach general availability in the US

    Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands prompts moved from beta to general availability and became billable per click.3524

  23. ChatGPT

    ChatGPT ads go live in the US

    OpenAI began showing labeled ads to logged-in adults on the Free and Go plans in the US. Early pricing was reported at a $60 CPM with large minimum commitments.1736

  24. Claude

    Anthropic says Claude will remain ad-free

    Anthropic published its ad-free commitment and launched a Super Bowl campaign built around it.3738

  25. Perplexity

    Perplexity moves away from advertising

    The Financial Times reported that Perplexity was abandoning its ads business, citing concerns about trust in its answers.3940

  26. ChatGPT

    OpenAI announces ChatGPT ads test and ad principles

    OpenAI said it would test ads for logged-in adults on the Free and Go plans in the US, and published principles including answer independence and conversation privacy.41

  27. Gemini app

    Google: no ads in the Gemini app, and no current plans

    Google's VP of global ads disputed a report that ads would come to the Gemini app in 2026.42

  28. Amazon Rufus

    Sponsored Prompts appear in the Amazon Ads console

    Amazon began rolling out Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands prompts tied to its Rufus shopping assistant (reported).43

  29. Meta AI

    Meta says AI chats will shape ads on its apps

    Meta announced that interactions with Meta AI would be used to personalize ads and content from December 16, 2025, excluding the UK, EU and South Korea.4445

  30. Grok

    Musk says ads are coming to Grok answers

    Speaking to advertisers, Elon Musk said X would let advertisers pay to appear in Grok's suggested answers. No timeline was given.4647

  31. Google AI Mode

    Google brings ads to AI Mode and AI Overviews on desktop

    At Google Marketing Live, Google expanded AI Overviews ads to US desktop and began testing ads in AI Mode.4849

  32. Microsoft Copilot

    Microsoft adds Showroom ads to Copilot

    Microsoft introduced interactive Showroom ads designed for Copilot's chat interface, piloted with select advertisers.50

  33. Perplexity

    Perplexity starts testing sponsored follow-up questions

    Perplexity began a US ads test using sponsored follow-up questions shown beside answers.51

  34. Google AI Overviews

    Ads launch in Google AI Overviews

    Search and Shopping ads began appearing in AI Overviews for mobile users in the US, labeled Sponsored.5253

  35. Microsoft Copilot

    Microsoft announces Compare & Decide ads for Bing Chat

    Microsoft introduced its first conversational ad format for the chat interface that later became Copilot.54

  36. Microsoft Copilot

    Microsoft says it is exploring ads in Bing Chat

    Microsoft confirmed it was exploring placing ads in the chat experience that later became Copilot, and said it would share ad revenue with publishers.55

Sources

  1. Ads in AI Mode expand to new marketsGoogle Ads & Commerce BlogOct 28, 2026blog.googleOfficial
  2. Google expands ads in AI Mode to more countries and multiturn ads in U.S.Search Engine RoundtableOct 28, 2026seroundtable.com
  3. ChatGPT Ads expands to 26 new countries as over 100,000 advertisers have used the platformOpenAIOct 21, 2026openai.comOfficial
  4. OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads to 26 more countries in bid to boost revenueReuters (via The Star)Oct 21, 2026thestar.com.my
  5. Advertisers in 26 more countries gain ChatGPT ads, bringing the total to 89PPC LandOct 21, 2026ppc.land
  6. OpenAI launches visual ads that appear alongside image generation resultsTechCrunchOct 5, 2026techcrunch.com
  7. Building advertising for the way people use AIOpenAIOct 5, 2026openai.comOfficial
  8. OpenAI names ChatGPT ads measurement partners and brand-suitability pilotsAdTechRadarOct 5, 2026adtechradar.com
  9. ChatGPT Ads expands to Southeast Asia and TaiwanOpenAISep 23, 2026openai.comOfficial
  10. Reimagining advertising with AIOpenAISep 16, 2026openai.comOfficial
  11. OpenAI testing Sponsored Agents for ChatGPT adsSearch Engine RoundtableSep 16, 2026seroundtable.com
  12. OpenAI gains 7 Asian markets for ChatGPT ads, passing 60 countriesPPC LandSep 24, 2026ppc.land
  13. OpenAI ChatGPT Ads Manager: costs, billing and what changed in 2026FlyweelSep 1, 2026flyweel.co
  14. ChatGPT ads reach 89 countries as OpenAI passes 100,000 advertisersThe Next WebOct 21, 2026thenextweb.com
  15. OpenAI is bringing ChatGPT ads to 31 European countriesThe Next WebAug 20, 2026thenextweb.com
  16. Microsoft turns on AI Max for every advertiser account worldwideRelevant AudienceAug 20, 2026relevantaudience.com
  17. Testing ads in ChatGPT (with updates through Aug 11, 2026)OpenAIFeb 9, 2026openai.comOfficial
  18. OpenAI gains 2 Latin American markets for ChatGPT ads, reaching 9 totalPPC LandAug 17, 2026ppc.land
  19. Advertising in agentic shopping experiencesAmazon AdsJun 11, 2026advertising.amazon.comOfficial
  20. ChatGPT ads go live in the UK as OpenAI expands pilot beyond USPPC LandJun 6, 2026ppc.land
  21. A new generation of ads for the AI era of SearchGoogle Ads & Commerce BlogMay 20, 2026blog.googleOfficial
  22. Gemini is the AI engine across the next generation of advertising and commerce (Google release)BrandSpurMay 21, 2026brandspurng.com
  23. Google's new AI search ad formats reshape how brands reach buyersPPC LandMay 20, 2026ppc.land
  24. Amazon merges Rufus and Alexa into one shopping assistantPPC LandMay 13, 2026ppc.land
  25. ChatGPT ads finally leave the US: UK, Japan, Korea, Brazil and Mexico nextPPC LandMay 7, 2026ppc.land
  26. New ways to buy ChatGPT adsOpenAIMay 5, 2026openai.comOfficial
  27. OpenAI launches self-serve Ads Manager for ChatGPTSearch Engine JournalMay 5, 2026searchenginejournal.com
  28. Google says it is open to putting ads in standalone Gemini app after focusing on AI Mode firstShopifreaksApr 30, 2026shopifreaks.com
  29. Google flips the script, reportedly considers putting ads in Gemini appAndroid CentralMay 1, 2026androidcentral.com
  30. Microsoft boosts agentic web ad visibilityMediaPostApr 22, 2026mediapost.com
  31. Microsoft Advertising launches AI Max, Offer Highlights, and UCP supportTechWyseApr 22, 2026techwyse.com
  32. ChatGPT Ads go live in Canada, Australia, and New ZealandTechWyseApr 17, 2026techwyse.com
  33. ChatGPT Ads arrive in AU, NZ, Canada: agency primerDigital AppliedApr 17, 2026digitalapplied.com
  34. OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand after U.S. pilot tops $100M in annualized revenueShopifreaksMar 29, 2026shopifreaks.com
  35. Advertising in the age of Rufus: breaking down Sponsored Product PromptsAcadiaApr 15, 2026acadia.io
  36. OpenAI extends ChatGPT ads pilot, plans self-serve toolsThe KeywordMar 30, 2026thekeyword.co
  37. Claude is a space to thinkAnthropicFeb 4, 2026anthropic.comOfficial
  38. Anthropic mocks ChatGPT ads in Super Bowl spot, vows Claude will stay ad-freeReuters (via The Star)Feb 7, 2026thestar.com.my
  39. Perplexity pulls the plug on ads, citing trust concerns for AICampaign AsiaFeb 18, 2026campaignasia.com
  40. Perplexity drops ads, saying they hurt trust in AIGigazineFeb 19, 2026gigazine.net
  41. Our approach to advertising and expanding accessOpenAIJan 16, 2026openai.comOfficial
  42. Google says there are 'no plans' to put ads in the Gemini app9to5GoogleDec 8, 20259to5google.com
  43. Explained: Sponsored Prompts ads on AmazonIntentwiseNov 30, 2025intentwise.com
  44. Meta plans to sell targeted ads based on data in your AI chatsTechCrunchOct 1, 2025techcrunch.com
  45. Meta just tied your private AI chats to its ad businessFortuneOct 2, 2025fortune.com
  46. X will put ads inside Grok AI answersSearch Engine LandAug 7, 2025searchengineland.com
  47. Elon Musk is looking to monetize GrokFortuneAug 8, 2025fortune.com
  48. Google is bringing ads to AI ModeTechCrunchMay 21, 2025techcrunch.com
  49. Google Ads come to AI Mode and AI Overviews desktopSearch Engine RoundtableMay 22, 2025seroundtable.com
  50. Microsoft's Copilot adds Showroom ads and Dynamic filtersSearch Engine LandMar 5, 2025searchengineland.com
  51. Perplexity brings ads to its platformTechCrunchNov 2024techcrunch.com
  52. Google ads in AI OverviewsPPC LandOct 3, 2024ppc.land
  53. Google Search results will be 'Organized with AI' and AI Overviews get ads9to5GoogleOct 3, 20249to5google.com
  54. Microsoft Advertising Copilot to create ads and new Compare & Decide Bing Chat adsSearch Engine RoundtableSep 26, 2023seroundtable.com
  55. Microsoft confirms it is testing ads in Bing ChatSiliconANGLEMar 30, 2023siliconangle.com