OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Go Plan Across Asia Amid Market Competition

OpenAI is rapidly expanding its presence in Asia with the rollout of its budget-friendly ChatGPT Go subscription plan across 16 countries. Priced under $5 per month, this strategic move follows significant user growth in Southeast Asia, where weekly active users have quadrupled.

Launch Details and Regional Adaptation

The ChatGPT Go plan is now available in:

• Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam
• Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives
• Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines
• Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

To enhance accessibility:

• Users in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan can pay in local currencies
• Other markets default to USD payments (~$5), with adjustments for local taxes

Strategic Value of ChatGPT Go

The plan serves dual purposes:

1. Expanding OpenAI's user base in high-potential Asian markets
2. Supporting profitability amid ongoing infrastructure investments ($7.8B H1 2025 loss)

Previous launches showed promising results:

• India saw 100% growth in paid subscribers post-launch (August)
• Indonesia adoption spurred regional expansion (September)

Key benefits include:

• Higher daily usage limits: Covers messaging, image generation/uploads
• Double memory capacity: Enables more personalized AI responses vs free tier

Competitive Landscape

The expansion directly challenges Google's AI offerings:

• Google launched similarly priced Google AI Plus (Indonesia first)
• Now available in 40 countries featuring Gemini 2.5 Pro model access
• Includes creative tools like Flow/Whisk/Veo 3 Fast

The timing coincides with OpenAI's platform evolution announced at DevDay 2025:

• ChatGPT weekly active users reach 800M globally (from 700M in August)
• Transitioning to an app store-like ecosystem with partners including Spotify/DoorDash/Uber "We're evolving ChatGPT into more of an operating system," stated Nick Tolley, Head of ChatGPT. --- ### Key Points:
  1. Regional Expansion: Launched across South/Southeast Asia with localized payment options
  2. Pricing Strategy: Sub-$5 plan targets mass adoption while supporting profitability
  3. Feature Advantages: Higher usage limits and memory vs free version
  4. Market Competition: Direct challenge to Google's expanding AI subscription services
  5. Platform Evolution: Shift toward OS-like functionality with integrated apps