ChatGPT is a cutting-edge technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate, learn, and work. With its advanced language processing capabilities, ChatGPT has the ability to help people achieve their true potential, increase productivity, and provide opportunities for freelancers and people from disadvantaged backgrounds to earn money. However, in order to fully realize the potential of ChatGPT, it’s important to carefully consider the pricing model that is used to make it accessible to everyone. While a subscription-based pricing model may seem like a natural choice for a technology like ChatGPT, it also has the potential to create an entry barrier for people who may not be able to afford it. In this blog post, we will explore the different pricing models available for ChatGPT and determine which one is best suited to unlocking its full potential and making it accessible to everyone.
Pay-as-you-go versus subscription-based pricing model for ChatGPT
I recently read an article claiming that OpenAI’s pay-as-you-go pricing model is confusing. This is completely untrue! OpenAI’s pricing model is straightforward and simple to comprehend. Not only is it easy to understand, but you also have access to daily usage and cost details, which allows you to estimate your own average cost for your particular usage. This is incredibly helpful when budgeting for new projects and developing an accurate cost model for any services that rely on Artificial Intelligence.
How does OpenAI work right now?
OpenAI currently uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model for its models, while ChatGPT is still free in this experimental period. With this model, users are only charged for the actual usage of the model, rather than having to pay a flat fee for access. This can be a more cost-effective option for users who only need to use the model occasionally or for smaller projects.
One of OpenAI’s most powerful language models, Davinci, is currently priced at 0.02 per 1K tokens. This means that users are charged based on the number of tokens they generate, which is a measure of the amount of text produced by the model. This pricing model is transparent and predictable, allowing users to easily understand how much they will be charged for a given project.
While the pay-as-you-go model can be more flexible and cost-effective for some users, it may also be more difficult to budget for others, especially for larger projects that require a lot of text generation. In the next section, we will explore alternative pricing models that could potentially address these limitations.
Pay-as-you-go is absolutely not a confusing pricing model
While some people might view the pay-as-you-go pricing model as confusing, it can actually be quite straightforward and predictable once you understand the underlying mechanics. As previously mentioned, the model is based on the number of tokens generated, with each token representing approximately 4 characters or 0.75 words of text. This means that the cost of using the model is directly tied to the amount of text you need to generate, making it easy to budget for projects in advance.
For example, if you know that you need to generate 900,000 words of text, similar to the collected works of Shakespeare, you can easily estimate the cost to be approximately 24,000 USD (based on the current price of 0.02 per 1K tokens). Furthermore, OpenAI provides a detailed chart that shows your usage day by day, making it even easier to track your costs and make informed decisions about future projects.
Entry barriers for low-income people
One of the key concerns with a subscription-based pricing model is that it may create entry barriers for low-income people. For people who are struggling to make ends meet, paying a monthly fee for access to ChatGPT may simply be too expensive. This is especially true for people from disadvantaged backgrounds who are looking for ways to start earning money through providing services using artificial intelligence.
A pay-as-you-go pricing model, on the other hand, could help to encourage more people from these backgrounds to use this technology and start earning an income. With a model that only charges for actual usage, it would be more affordable for people who are just starting out and may not have a lot of work available. Over time, as they build their business and generate more work, they would be able to start paying more for the use of the technology.
The benefits of having this technology being used by a wider range of people cannot be overstated. It would boost productivity and increase the popularity of ChatGPT, leading to even more success stories. Furthermore, hearing about success stories from people who have been able to escape poverty and earn an income using ChatGPT and artificial intelligence would have a positive impact on the brand identity of OpenAI, and encourage others to start using the technology themselves.
The importance of having a pay-as-you-go pricing model right away
It is important to keep these considerations in mind from the very beginning, as creating a gap between early adopters and those who cannot afford the subscription-based pricing model could result in significant differences in opportunities and outcomes. The early adopters, who already have an income, would be able to benefit from the technology and continue to grow their businesses, while those who would like to use the technology but cannot afford it would be left behind.
Adopting a pay-as-you-go pricing model from the outset would allow a wider range of people to start using the service, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This would not only help to level the playing field and create more opportunities, but it would also be beneficial for OpenAI in the long run. With more people using the technology, OpenAI would see a quicker return on investment, and be able to generate more revenue through an economy of scale. The more people using the technology, the more revenue OpenAI would be able to generate, creating a positive feedback loop that would drive growth and success for the company.
In conclusion, adopting a pay-as-you-go pricing model from the beginning would be beneficial for both OpenAI and the wider community. It would allow more people to start using the technology, creating more opportunities and a more level playing field. It would also be beneficial for OpenAI, as they would see a quicker return on investment and be able to generate more revenue through an economy of scale. By giving everyone the opportunity to start using the service, OpenAI would be creating a brighter future for everyone involved.
Jasper: the case study of a current artificial intelligence service with a subscription-based pricing model
It is worth noting that Jasper, a similar service to ChatGPT, currently operates under a subscription-based pricing model, with a cost of 49 USD per month plus credits. While this service has been successful for many early adopters and those who can afford the subscription, it has also become clear that there is a gap between those who can afford it and those who cannot. The cost of using Jasper, which can easily exceed 70 to 99 USD per month, is simply too much for many people, leaving them unable to access the benefits of this technology.
This highlights the importance of considering alternative pricing models that are more accessible and inclusive. A pay-as-you-go model, for example, would allow more people to start using the service and experience its benefits, without being limited by the cost. By creating a more accessible and inclusive pricing model, OpenAI and ChatGPT would be able to reach a wider range of users and have a greater impact, helping to create a brighter future for everyone involved.
