ChatGPT's new plan costs $500 a month (www.businessinsider.com)

OpenAI has unveiled a new subscription tier for ChatGPT, the Pro 500 plan, priced at $500 per month, which represents a significant increase of $300 from its previous highest plan. This new offering, announced during OpenAI's DevDay, includes access to advanced "Ultrafast" computing capabilities with GPT-6 Astra in both ChatGPT Work and Codex, promising up to an 8x speed enhancement for coding tasks. Additionally, the plan offers the highest usage allowance available, crucial for developers who often hit their token limits. This development is notable for the AI/ML community as it reflects OpenAI's efforts to cater to high-demand users, particularly in professional and enterprise settings, while also indicating a trend towards premium pricing structures in AI services. Alongside this new tier, OpenAI is reintroducing its $200 Pro plan, though with decreased usage allowances, transitioning from a 20x to a 10x increase compared to the $20 Plus plan. The changes could reshape how small businesses and developers allocate budgets for AI tools, as some users have deemed even the higher costs justifiable given the benefits, highlighting the growing reliance on advanced AI capabilities in professional environments.