“In the past, it was enough to just use it, but these days, they say you have to subscribe to a higher plan to use it properly. The new features are only available on the expensive plan, and the existing plans seem to have more and more restrictions.”
Among some users who have been using generative artificial intelligence (AI) services, there have been quite a few complaints recently. This is because the plans are being subdivided with major features centered around higher plans, leading to relatively more restrictions for free users or users of existing plans.
Recently, AI corporations have been successively releasing high-priced plans, transitioning to an 'OTT (Over-The-Top) charging model.' Similar to subscription platforms based on content, they secure users first and then subdivide the plans, prioritizing the latest features for the higher plans.
On the 5th, according to the industry, Perplexity launched a super expensive plan called 'Perplexity Max' for $200 a month (approximately 270,000 won) this month. By subscribing to this plan, users can prioritize access to the latest features such as the AI-based analysis tool 'Labs' and the upcoming AI browser 'Comet.' This is in addition to the existing $20 'Pro' and $40 'Enterprise Pro' plans, with a new premium plan established for high-end users.
Previously, OpenAI also launched a 'ChatGPT Pro' plan for $200 a month that allows unlimited use of o1-Pro and GPT-4o in December last year. This plan targets professional users with high-speed responses, priority processing, and advanced voice and image functions. Anthropic launched its latest model, Claude Opus 4, as a subscription plan for advanced users called 'Claude Max' at $200 a month in April. Google is also currently offering benefits such as access to the latest model Gemini 2.5 Pro DeepSync, 30 terabytes (TB) of storage, and YouTube Premium for $249.99 a month through its 'Google AI Ultra' plan last month.
This cost structure is affecting not only private users but also the institutional sector. According to data released in March by Yang Bu-nam, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea in the Public Administration and Security Committee, the total subscription expenditure of local governments across the country for generative AI services such as ChatGPT amounted to 391.68 million won over the year. Major local governments, such as Chungnam, Seoul, and Gyeonggi, were reported to subscribe to about 10 AI programs each.
The problem is that generative AI services are often utilized as practical production tools rather than mere content consumption. Due to their establishment as essential tools in various fields such as work, education, and research, the structure where the latest features are concentrated only in higher plans raises concerns about creating a serious 'digital divide.'
For instance, while the higher plans for Netflix or Disney Plus are around 20,000 won a month, major AI services typically have expensive plans exceeding $200 (about 270,000 won). With an increasing number of users trying to enhance productivity and competitiveness using AI, the 'entry fee' for accessing the latest features is becoming excessively high. An AI industry official said, “While there may be user complaints regarding feature limitations, the infrastructure costs required for operating AI are so large that, from the corporations’ perspective, they have no choice but to expand a revenue model centered on higher plans.”
Kim Myeong-ju, head of the AI Safety Research Institute at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), noted, “The reason AI corporations are introducing high-priced plans is that the B2B (business-to-business) or application spread is still insufficient, so they have to generate revenue from the model itself,” adding that “demand will likely increase more in organizations like corporations and public institutions that can process costs as operating expenses or research funding instead of individuals.” He further added, “Due to differences in users' ability to bear costs, disparities in AI accessibility and quality are inevitable, and there is a possibility that the digital divide issue may worsen in the long term.”