OpenAI launches subscription service
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced on Wednesday that it is testing a $20 monthly subscription plan that offers users priority access to the AI chatbot even during peak hours.
The paid plan, called ChatGPT Plus, comes two months after the tool’s release and quickly went viral, thanks to its ability to generate surprisingly compelling trials in response to user prompts.
Many people who wanted to test the tool were locked out or joined the waiting list. Now anyone signing up for a subscription will enjoy faster response times and priority access to new features and improvements.
However, the tool will remain free for the general public.
“We love our free users and will continue to offer free access to ChatGPT,” the company said in a blog post. “By offering this subscription price, we will be able to help support the availability of free access to as many people as possible.”
ChatGPT Plus will be available in the US first and in other countries soon after, according to the company. OpenAI said it will begin inviting people from its waitlist in the coming weeks. The company also said it was “actively exploring options for lower cost plans, business plans, and data packs for more uptime.”
“The ChatGPT preview allowed us to learn from real-world usage, and we’ve made significant improvements and updates based on feedback,” the company said in a statement to CNN.
Since becoming available in late November, ChatGPT has been used to generate original essays, stories, and song lyrics in response to user prompts. He wrote summaries of research papers that misled some scientists. Some CEOs have even used it to write emails or do accounting work.
While it has gained traction among users, it has also raised some concerns, including inaccuracies, its potential to perpetuate bias and spread misinformation, and the ability to help students cheat.
Earlier this week, OpenAI announced a new feature, called “AI Text Classifier”, which allows users to check whether an essay was written by a human or an AI. The release came amid concerns that the AI chatbot can help students and professionals generate compelling essays. The new tool, however, is “flawed”, according to the company.
