Seriously, Why Do Some AI Chatbot Subscriptions Cost More Than $200?

Why does OpenAI’s monthly subscription for ChatGPT Pro cost $200? Because CEO Sam Altman said so. “I personally chose the price and thought we would make some money,” Altman wrote on X.

Launched late last year, the plan designed for power users includes almost unlimited access to ChatGPT as well as first dibs on feature launches, like OpenAI’s new agent. The plan attracted, well, power users. A month after its initial release, Altman claimed OpenAI was still losing money on the all-you-can-eat subscription.

Even though Altman admitted the $200 monthly tier was a money-loser, the release set a precedent and ushered in the vibe-based pricing era for expensive chatbot subscriptions.

Generative AI tools are costly and resource-intensive to run, with many startups rapidly burning through cash. And much like how OpenAI defined the consumer market for chatbots with the release of ChatGPT, Altman’s $200-a-month price tier for ...