Will people really pay $200 a month for OpenAI’s new chatbot?
OpenAI's $200 ChatGPT Pro faces skepticism over its value and performance claims.
OpenAI introduced a new $200-a-month ChatGPT Pro plan featuring the o1 pro mode, intended to provide better answers to complex questions in science, math, and coding. However, the hefty price tag and the model's performance have been met with skepticism by the AI community, who question its value and seek concrete examples of its superiority over the standard o1 model.
Prominent voices such as Simon Willison and others have pointed out the lack of compelling evidence demonstrating the advantage of o1 pro mode, especially given its challenges with tasks like Sudoku or optical illusions. The service, which OpenAI claims to offer benefits like unlimited model access, is under scrutiny for its price-to-performance ratio and vague marketing promises regarding its problem-solving capabilities.
Experts suggest that the audience for ChatGPT Pro may primarily consist of those in specialized fields requiring extreme accuracy. OpenAI has offered access to some medical researchers, emphasizing reliability in critical areas such as healthcare. Despite these potential improvements, critics argue the expectations are not being met, as echoed by the lukewarm reception on social media.