December 11, 2024 – According to a report by Bloomberg, Sarah Friar, the Chief Financial Officer of OpenAI, has stated that charging enterprise users thousands of dollars per month for their AI software is justifiable, as it accurately reflects the value the technology brings to businesses.
During an interview, Friar commented on a report discussing a potential monthly subscription fee of $2000, saying, “I’m open to all possibilities. If the tool can provide ‘PhD-level’ assistance on demand, such a fee is entirely reasonable in many scenarios.”
Currently, OpenAI offers two subscription models for consumers: a basic service at 20permonthandarecentlyintroducedpremiumservicepricedat200 monthly, which grants access to the company’s most advanced models. Additionally, OpenAI provides a flat-rate pricing model for enterprises based on the number of users.
However, Friar hinted that the company might shift to a value-based pricing model, particularly for corporate clients. She gave examples such as lawyers utilizing AI as an “on-demand assistant service” or scholars employing it to facilitate research breakthroughs. This pricing approach would not only better represent the product’s worth but also aid the company in offsetting the high costs associated with AI system development.
This potential change in pricing strategy aligns with OpenAI’s plans to introduce an AI Agent tool capable of handling complex tasks, including booking travel arrangements or conducting in-depth research. Such a tool is expected to enhance efficiency and reduce costs through automation for businesses.
“Without these tools, you might need to hire extra staff to perform these duties,” Friar elaborated. “So, how do you calculate the replacement cost? How can we establish a pricing system that is both reasonable and fair?”
