OpenAI Expands Brazil Operations Amid Surging AI Adoption
James Ding Aug 27, 2026 14:01
OpenAI launches commercial operations in São Paulo as Brazil becomes a top AI market, driving innovation and economic potential.
OpenAI has officially launched commercial operations in Brazil, establishing a dedicated team in São Paulo to support the country's rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. Brazil is now one of ChatGPT’s top three markets globally, with users in the country sending an estimated 215 million messages to ChatGPT daily, according to OpenAI data from August 2026. This expansion underscores OpenAI’s long-term commitment to fostering AI-driven growth and innovation in one of the fastest-growing markets for AI technology.
CEO Sam Altman highlighted the “creativity and energy” of Brazil’s entrepreneurial and developer communities, noting the distinctive ways in which Brazilians are leveraging AI. For instance, the number of developers using OpenAI’s API in Brazil ranks second globally, while Codex—a tool for generating and completing code—has seen its daily interactions in the country expand thirtyfold since early 2026. Such widespread adoption reflects not only the scale of interest but also a shift toward practical applications of AI across industries.
OpenAI is also emphasizing the economic potential of AI in Brazil. An independent study by RegLab, funded by OpenAI, estimates that AI could contribute nearly R$1 trillion to Brazil’s GDP by 2030. However, the company stresses that achieving this impact will require more than just technology; it will also depend on skills development, responsible deployment, and collaboration with local institutions. To that end, OpenAI is partnering with Brazilian organizations across education, research, and business sectors.
Recent initiatives include providing AI literacy training for legal professionals, collaborating with the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) to expand access to AI tools for students and faculty, and supporting small businesses through mobile-first AI training programs. OpenAI is also working with São Paulo’s municipal government to explore AI applications in public services.
Brazil’s business community has embraced AI at a breakneck pace. The number of ChatGPT Enterprise seats in the country has quintupled over the past year, and local entrepreneurs are using ChatGPT for diverse applications—from drafting marketing strategies to building internal management tools. Jewelry designer Lina Prades, for example, used ChatGPT to streamline her operations and create apps for her business, demonstrating how non-technical users can leverage AI to innovate.
The cultural sector is similarly thriving. OpenAI recently hosted its first Creators Day in São Paulo, showcasing projects by local artists like Dell Nunes, who uses AI to depict Brazil’s diverse communities, and Paulo Aguiar, who blends AI with human creativity across multiple media formats. These initiatives aim to support Brazil’s creator community while shaping AI tools to reflect local culture and context.
OpenAI’s Brazilian expansion builds on earlier moves, including a May 2026 media partnership with Grupo Folha and Grupo UOL, which integrated Brazilian journalism into ChatGPT. In August 2026, the company also launched ChatGPT Ads in Brazil, signaling its intent to monetize AI adoption further in the region.
With Brazil now a global leader in AI usage, OpenAI’s investment could play a pivotal role in shaping how AI contributes to economic growth and societal progress. The company’s efforts to deepen its engagement with developers, businesses, and institutions signal a broader strategy to embed AI into Brazil’s economic and cultural fabric.
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