OpenAI has announced the expansion of its affordable ChatGPT Go plan to 16 new countries across Asia, marking another major step in its mission to make artificial intelligence tools accessible to a broader global audience.
The rollout extends availability to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam.
According to OpenAI, users in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan can now pay for their subscriptions using local currencies, while others will pay roughly $5 USD per month, subject to local tax adjustments.
Expanding Access to AI in Emerging Markets
The ChatGPT Go plan is designed to bring powerful AI capabilities to users who may not be able to afford premium tiers. The plan includes upgrades such as:
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Higher daily message limits
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Enhanced image generation and file upload features
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Twice the memory of the free version for more personalized interactions
By offering an affordable entry point, OpenAI aims to bridge the accessibility gap and foster AI adoption across emerging economies in Asia.
How ChatGPT Go Began
OpenAI first introduced ChatGPT Go in August 2025, debuting in India at a subscription price of ₹399 per month—its most affordable plan to date. The choice of India as the launch market reflected the country’s rapid embrace of AI technologies and its mature mobile payment ecosystem.
The plan’s success was immediate, with a surge in subscriptions driven by users in education, small businesses, and content creation. Encouraged by this momentum, OpenAI expanded the plan to Indonesia in September 2025, citing the nation’s fast-growing digital economy and increasing reliance on AI tools.
In both India and Indonesia, ChatGPT Go provided users with extended message limits, image generation tools, and greater memory capacity, previously reserved for higher-tier subscribers.
Southeast Asia’s User Base Quadruples
OpenAI revealed that its user base in Southeast Asia has grown fourfold over the past few months. The company attributes this surge to higher smartphone penetration, improved internet access, and growing digital literacy across developing Asian nations.
According to OpenAI, weekly active users in the region now make up one of the platform’s fastest-growing demographics globally. The company also hinted at future expansions to other emerging markets as it scales infrastructure and payment support.
Competing in the Global AI Subscription Market
OpenAI’s expansion comes amid intensifying competition in the global AI landscape. Tech rival Google recently launched its Google AI Plus subscription in Indonesia, expanding it to over 40 countries since September.
Google’s plan grants subscribers access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, the company’s most advanced AI model, along with creative tools for image and video generation, including Flow (for design), Whisk (for image remixing), and Veo 3 Fast (for video creation). It also offers 200GB of cloud storage, appealing to creators and professionals who seek integrated AI productivity tools.
OpenAI’s Growing Ecosystem and Developer Base
Despite competition, OpenAI continues to expand its influence. CEO Sam Altman recently disclosed that ChatGPT now serves over 800 million weekly active users, up from 700 million in August.
The company also boasts a community of over 4 million developers building on its API, with more than 6 billion tokens processed per minute through the platform. This growth underscores ChatGPT’s increasing importance across industries, from education and design to enterprise productivity and software development.
Challenges Behind the Growth
While OpenAI’s global footprint continues to grow, the company faces the financial strain of scaling its AI infrastructure. Reports indicate that OpenAI recorded a $7.8 billion operating loss in the first half of 2025 as it ramped up investment in computing capacity and AI model training.
Nonetheless, the company remains focused on its long-term goal of profitability through subscription plans, API usage, and enterprise partnerships.
What This Means for AI Access in Asia
The rollout of ChatGPT Go across 16 new Asian countries is more than just a pricing strategy — it’s a signal of OpenAI’s intent to democratize access to advanced AI tools.
By localizing payment options and offering affordable entry tiers, OpenAI is positioning itself as a key driver of AI inclusion in regions that have historically been underserved by global tech innovations.
For millions of students, entrepreneurs, and professionals across Asia, ChatGPT Go could become their first step into the world of generative AI — enabling creativity, productivity, and innovation at a fraction of traditional costs.
As OpenAI continues to expand its presence, the AI adoption curve across emerging markets is set to accelerate — reshaping how technology, education, and business evolve across the continent.
