OpenAI backs off flat-fee tokenless pricing

OpenAI considered replacing token-based pricing for its next model with a flat-fee system where developers submit a prompt and receive a single price, but backed away after negative customer feedback. CEO Sam Altman stated that customers strongly resisted receiving a price without a detailed breakdown, preferring to pay more for token visibility rather than risk feeling cheated by an opaque fee. Altman acknowledged the limitations of tokens as a unit of measurement, describing them as a fake unit, but noted that OpenAI currently has no clear alternative. Open article →