▲ GPT-6 Astra
OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has temporarily suspended new subscriptions for its top-tier Pro plan due to a surge in demand for its new artificial intelligence (AI) model, Astra.
On the 10th (local time), Thibault Sottiaux, OpenAI's VP of Product and Platforms, announced via the social networking service X (formerly Twitter), "To ensure that current users have the best possible experience and can continue using Astra, we are temporarily pausing new sign-ups for the USD 200 Pro plan."
Sottiaux explained, "This tier puts the heaviest load on our systems, and we have decided to take this minimal measure so that we can continue to provide as broad a service as possible," adding, "Existing accounts will not be affected."
OpenAI operates its paid ChatGPT subscription tiers across low-end Go (USD 8 per month), standard Plus (USD 20 per month), and high-end Pro plans.
Among these, the Pro plan is divided into USD 100 and USD 200 options, with the suspension specifically affecting the USD 200 option, which features the highest usage limits.
Sottiaux added, "We are working to scale up our compute capacity as quickly as possible," noting that other subscription tiers outside of the USD 200 Pro plan and the API billed on a pay-as-you-go basis remain available.
Recently, OpenAI introduced the GPT-6 Astra model alongside a declaration that it had "reached Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)."
Astra has demonstrated significant leaps forward in AI reasoning, academia, coding, and computer usage, such as successfully passing all 48 stages of the CAPTCHA test previously used to distinguish robots and solving multiple difficult mathematical problems.
However, OpenAI has not disclosed specific figures such as changes in the number of new subscribers and users or daily token usage following the announcement of Astra.
The company also did not mention how long the suspension of subscriptions for the plan would last.
(Photo: Capture from OpenAI website, Yonhap News)
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