AI-powered program ChatGPT is currently free, but a paid version is apparently in the works.
OpenAI, the lab behind the program, is exploring ways to make money from the popular chatbot, according to a post on the company’s Discord server.
“We're starting to think about how to monetize ChatGPT (early thinking, nothing official to share yet),” the lab wrote. “Our goal is to continue improving and maintaining the service, and monetization is one way we're considering to ensure its long-term viability.”
The same post includes a link to a survey about a paid version of the program called “professional ChatGPT access.” The lab is hoping to gather feedback from users on how much they’d be willing to pay for ChatGPT access in return for greater access.
According to the survey, the professional ChatGPT would always be online, without blackout windows, and offer even faster responses. In addition, it would supply twice as many messages over the current daily cap.
OpenAI plans on offering the experimental paid version of ChatGPT through a waitlist. “We are not making paid pro access generally available at this time,” the lab added.
The monetization push comes as the San Francisco-based lab is likely spending millions each month to pay for the servers needed to operate ChatGPT on a large public scale. OpenAI’s co-founder Sam Altman estimates each chat generated with the bot likely costs the lab a few cents.
So the monetization could help keep OpenAI financially afloat when interest in the chatbot remains high. ChatGPT has become so popular even Google is alarmed at its potential to supplant traditional search engines through a chatbot that can provide human-like conversational answers to a user’s queries.
According to Reuters, OpenAI expects to make $200 million in revenue this year and then $1 billion by 2024. The company may also receive a huge injection of capital from Microsoft, which wants to incorporate ChatGPT into Bing. Microsoft is considering a $10 billion investment in OpenAI, according to Semafor. In return, Redmond would receive 75% of the profit OpenAI receives until it recoups the investment, and eventually a 49% stake in the lab.