If you're a heavy user of OpenAI's AI video generator, Sora, get ready for a big change. The company has just announced it's adding paid credits, signaling that the "crazy usage limits" of the free tier won't last forever.
How Much Will Sora Cost?
According to Sora's listing on the Apple App Store, users can now buy 10 extra video generations for $4.
However, OpenAI clarifies that the number of credits used per video will depend on its "length, resolution, and other factors." When you hit your free daily limit, you will now see an option to purchase more credits. These credits will last for 12 months.
The "Unsustainable" Free Model
Why the sudden change? Bill Peebles, who leads the Sora team at OpenAI, was blunt. He stated that the video platform’s economics are "currently completely unsustainable."
While power users aren't satisfied with the current free limits (100 for Pro users and 30 for everyone else), Peebles said OpenAI is now going to let creators "get as much usage as they want to pay for."
A Warning: Free Limits Will Drop
Peebles also issued a clear warning for all free users: "Eventually we will need to bring the free gens down to accommodate growth."
He advised users to "enjoy the crazy usage limits" while they last and promised that OpenAI will "be transparent as it happens."
OpenAI's Big Picture: Monetizing AI
This move is part of OpenAI's larger strategy to build an AI-powered creator economy. The company is steadily adding features to achieve this, including:
- Clip stitching
- Leaderboards for popular videos
- "Cameos" (A feature for creating deepfake avatars)
This new payment system is the first major step in turning Sora from a popular experiment into a commercial product.