OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research laboratory, has announced on its Discord server that it may soon introduce a paid pro version of its popular AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. The pro version, named ChatGPT Professional, will be faster and more reliable, with features such as no blackout periods, faster responses to prompts and at least 2X the regular daily limit of messages.
The reason for this move is to generate revenue to support the ongoing development and upkeep of ChatGPT.
“We’re starting to think about how to monetize ChatGPT (early thinking, nothing official to share yet). Our goal is to continue improving and maintaining the service, and monetization is one way we’re considering to ensure its long-term viability. We’re interested in chatting with some folks for ~15 min to get some early feedback. If you’re interested in chatting, please fill out this form (takes ~10 min to fill out),” said the company on Discord.
This announcement is not an official confirmation of ChatGPT Professional, and further details such as pricing have yet to be revealed.
However, the company has set up a waitlist for a pilot version of ChatGPT Professional, where users can sign up and provide feedback on how they would use the pro version and how much they would be willing to pay for it. The form also notes that the pilot program is subject to change and that paid pro access is not currently available to the general public.
It is worth noting that OpenAI makes no promises that the current version of ChatGPT will always be free. As the chatbot is currently a free research preview, it is possible that it will eventually become a paid product.
This move towards monetization is in line with the expectation of OpenAI’s investors, such as Microsoft, who have invested significant amounts in the company and expect a return on their investment.