OpenAI has temporarily halted new subscriptions for its Pro plan, priced at $200 per month, due to an unprecedented surge in demand for its latest model, GPT-6 Astra. This high level of interest has placed significant strain on the company’s infrastructure. Thibault Sottiaux, the head of core products at OpenAI, announced the decision on social media, explaining that existing Pro users were creating the most demand on the systems, prompting the need to pause new registrations for this tier. OpenAI aims to ensure quality service for its current user base while managing the increased workload.
The company had initially warned of potential changes a few days prior, indicating that the response to Astra was unlike anything previously experienced, even during rapid growth phases. Despite the pause on Pro subscriptions, OpenAI continues to offer its more affordable ChatGPT Go and Plus plans, as well as access through API connections.
The Astra model was launched on September 3 and has been integrated into various subscription tiers, including Pro, Plus, Enterprise, and Business. It is touted as a significant advancement in artificial intelligence capabilities, particularly in logical reasoning, coding, and computer interaction, intensifying competition in the field. OpenAI characterized the release of Astra as the dawn of a new era in artificial general intelligence (AGI), further fueling user interest.
The duration of the suspension for new Pro subscriptions remains unclear, and OpenAI has not disclosed how many users subscribe daily, making it challenging to gauge the full extent of the demand. In August, the company had increased limits for Codex users, suggesting that the current overload issue has emerged recently.
This situation reflects the growing demand for advanced AI solutions and may prompt competitors to accelerate their own offerings in response to OpenAI's success.
Informational material. 18+.
