In a recent statement on a social media platform, Sam Altman, the founder and CEO of OpenAI, revealed that the usage frequency of ChatGPT Pro subscription users far exceeds the company's expectations. Despite the monthly fee reaching $200 (approximately 1,470 RMB), the service is still operating at a loss. Altman mentioned that the originally set price was expected to generate some profit, but the reality has not met those expectations.
Since its launch on December 5, 2024, ChatGPT Pro has garnered significant attention. Compared to the Plus version, which costs $20 per month (approximately 147 RMB), the Pro version offers substantial enhancements. Users now have unlimited access to the more advanced GPT-4o and OpenAI o1 models, along with the "Advanced Audio" feature. Additionally, the context window for Pro subscriptions has expanded from 32K to 128K, providing more computational power for handling more complex queries.
However, this high level of service undoubtedly places greater demands on OpenAI's computing resources, leading to increased cost pressures. According to reports from The Information, OpenAI expects to face losses of up to $14 billion (approximately 102.9 billion RMB) by 2026, and it may not achieve profitability until 2029. Such financial conditions raise concerns about the future of OpenAI.
In response, Altman stated that despite facing significant loss pressures, OpenAI will continue to focus on advancing AI technology. He emphasized that with ongoing technological advancements, the potential for future profitability remains promising. Although the current user volume and cost structure pose challenges to their business model, the company is still exploring viable solutions for sustainable growth.
In today's rapidly advancing AI technology landscape, OpenAI faces not only market competition but also rising costs and challenges from user demand. Altman's comments may serve as a warning to investors and users alike; how to balance service quality and costs will be a core issue that OpenAI must address in the future.