OpenAI has recently faced financial challenges because of its ChatGPT Pro plan, which costs $200 per month. The company’s CEO, Sam Altman, admitted that OpenAI is losing money on this plan, as users are utilizing it more than expected. Altman noted that he personally set the price for this service, hoping for profit, but reality turned out differently.
Launched at the end of last year, ChatGPT Pro provides access to an enhanced “reasoning” model called o1 pro mode, and also removes usage limits on several other OpenAI tools, including the video generator Sora. Despite the high subscription cost—$2,400 per year—users are actively taking advantage of these features, creating additional financial pressure on the company.
OpenAI, which has already raised about $20 billion since its founding, is still not profitable. Personnel, office rent, and infrastructure costs for AI training are the main factors behind losses, which last year reached $5 billion with revenues of $3.7 billion. The costs of supporting ChatGPT, which once reached up to $700,000 per day, also significantly affect the company’s financial situation.
To achieve profitability, OpenAI is considering raising prices for various subscription tiers. In addition, Altman hinted that the company may introduce a usage-based pricing model for some of its services. OpenAI is optimistic about increasing revenues to $11.6 billion this year and up to $100 billion by 2029, which would match the current annual sales of Nestlé.
