There’s a new subscription tier for OpenAI’s ChatGPT. But it’s not something you’ll likely want to pay for.
A Costly Way to Access ChatGPT
ChatGPT Pro is now available for the eye-watering cost of $200 per month. Along with everything in the free and Plus tiers, Pro subscribers will receive unlimited access to o1, o1-mini, GPT-4o, and advanced voice mode. Subscribers will also have access to the o1 pro mode.
The o1 model is unique because it takes more time to provide an answer to questions. The model is made to reason through more complex tasks and solve harder problems in science, coding, and math. Results are more accurate and comprehensive. That could be a big step toward fixing the issue of critical flaws in AI reasoning.
In the o1 pro mode, the answer will take longer to generate, so you’ll see a progress bar. If you switch to something else, an in-app notification will let you know when the answer is ready.
Thankfully, you won’t have to shell out big bucks to access o1 or o1-mini. It’s also available to subscribers of the $20 monthly Plus tier starting today. OpenAI does state that access will be “limited” for the lower-tier subscribers.
OpenAI also said that o1 will get better in the coming months with new tools like web browsing and file uploads.
The $200 monthly subscription fee is likely outside the price range for regular users. OpenAI will probably target ChatGPT Pro to larger clients like businesses and educational institutions. In those situations, that’s likely a small price to pay for the most advanced AI technology.
Rapidly Adding Features
OpenAI continues to add features for ChatGPT at a dizzying pace. In October, the company launched ChatGPT Search. That allows you to find information from around the web like you would a search engine. You can ask a question or search manually for an answer. It also shows updated information like weather, stocks, sports, news, and apps.
Even with all the additions, it’s yet to be seen if there will be enough interest to draw in subscribers and make money for the business.
