OpenAI seeks to introduce more expensive subscription plans for upcoming large-language models such as the Strawberry and Orion AI models.
OpenAI’s paid user base, including ChatGPT Enterprise, Team, and Edu users, has surged by nearly 67% since April, surpassing one million on September 5.
The San Francisco-based AI company’s chatbot continues to gain traction due to its advanced language capabilities.
According to a Reuters report, OpenAI’s business products have expanded from 600,000 users in April to over one million.
The company is reportedly preparing to launch higher-priced subscription tiers for its forthcoming large language models, such as the Strawberry and Orion AI models, with some plans potentially costing up to $2,000 per month.
This news comes just a month after xAI introduced the Grok-2 AI assistant, available to X platform users with Premium or Premium+ memberships. xAI, launched in July 2023, could become a significant competitor to OpenAI by the end of 2024, according to Elon Musk during Viva Tech Paris 2024.
OpenAI’s Valuation Could Reach $100 Billion
Apple and US chipmaker Nvidia are reportedly considering investing in OpenAI’s upcoming funding round, which could value the AI firm at over $100 billion.
Microsoft, which already holds a 49% stake in OpenAI after investing $13 billion since 2019, will also participate in the round.
On August 29, OpenAI announced that ChatGPT’s weekly active users had doubled over the past year, surpassing 200 million.
Despite this growth, OpenAI’s revenue remains below expectations, with annualized sales of approximately $3.4 billion as of May 2024.
AI Regulation and Safety Testing
OpenAI has expressed support for California’s AB 3211 AI bill, requiring watermarks in the metadata of AI-generated images, videos, and audio.
However, the company has opposed another AI bill, SB 1047, introduced by California State Senator Scott Wiener in February.
SB 1047, co-authored by Senators Richard Roth, Susan Rubio, and Henry Stern, would require AI developers to conduct safety testing on some of their models.
On September 5, the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom signed the Framework Convention on AI, the first legally binding international treaty on artificial intelligence.
The treaty emphasizes human rights and democratic values in regulating AI in both the public and private sectors.
While the treaty holds signatories accountable for harm or discrimination caused by AI systems, penalties for violations have not yet been determined.
