‘AI will be sold like electricity and water by OpenAI’: Sam Altman explains how you’ll pay by usage, not subscription

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has proposed a transformative vision for how artificial intelligence services will be monetized in the future. Speaking at the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit, Altman suggested AI will evolve into a utility-like service, where users pay based on their actual usage rather than subscribing to recurring monthly plans. This approach likens AI to essential utilities like electricity or water, which are metered and billed according to consumption.

Altman’s concept marks a shift from today’s prevalent subscription models toward a usage-based billing system that scales with demand. This would reflect the rapid growth in AI use cases and the increased capacity of tech infrastructure to deliver on-demand intelligence. By treating AI as a metered utility, OpenAI aims to make access more flexible and aligned with actual needs, potentially lowering barriers for smaller users while accommodating enterprise-scale consumption.

This model also positions AI as a fundamental infrastructure resource, integrating it deeply into business and consumer ecosystems. OpenAI’s strategy aligns with broader industry trends recognizing AI’s pervasive role across sectors. It suggests a future where AI capabilities are as routinely essential and reliably priced as other utilities, underscoring AI’s transition from novel technology to everyday service.

Altman’s vision raises important considerations around pricing fairness, data privacy, and regulation but highlights the industry’s evolving approach to delivering AI’s promises efficiently and sustainably.