OpenAI projects major jump in paid ChatGPT users by 2030

SAN FRANCISCO, California: OpenAI expects paid adoption of ChatGPT to expand sharply over the next five years, projecting that more than 220 million weekly users will subscribe to the chatbot by 2030, The Information reported, citing a person familiar with the forecasts.

The projection assumes that 8.5 percent of an estimated 2.6 billion weekly users will pay for access, putting ChatGPT on track to become one of the world's largest subscription businesses, the report said.

As of July, about 35 million users, roughly five percent of ChatGPT's weekly active base, were paying for "Plus" or "Pro" plans priced at US$20 and $200 per month.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the report. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

OpenAI's revenue run rate is expected to reach about $20 billion by year-end, though the company is also seeing rising losses, sources have told Reuters. In September, The Information reported that OpenAI generated roughly $4.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025, up 16 percent from all of last year, while burning $2.5 billion in research and development and operating costs.

The report also said that about 20 percent of future revenue is expected to come from new products, including shopping and advertising-related tools. This week, OpenAI introduced a personal shopping assistant inside ChatGPT, a move that could open the door to ad-based or commission-driven monetization.