OpenAI recently announced that it now has over 1 million paying users across its business offerings, which include ChatGPT Enterprise, Teams, and Edu. This growth is a substantial leap from the 600,000 users recorded in April, reflecting CEO Sam Altman’s concerted efforts to drive enterprise adoption of ChatGPT for professional use.
In line with this expansion, The Information reported that there are ongoing discussions within OpenAI regarding the introduction of higher-tier subscriptions for future large language models (LLMs). These models include “Strawberry,” a reasoning-focused model, and “Orion,” the next flagship AI. According to reports, potential subscription fees for these new models could soar up to $2,000 per month, contrasting sharply with the current $20 per month for ChatGPT Plus. This move is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to enhance its AI models, like Strawberry, which incorporates a technique known as “post-training” to improve performance on specialized tasks after the models have been trained on general data.
OpenAI’s “Strawberry” model is an advanced AI initiative designed to enhance reasoning capabilities and facilitate what is known as “deep research.” Unlike traditional AI systems that focus primarily on pattern recognition, Strawberry introduces features such as autonomous internet navigation and the ability to solve multi-step problems.
The model enables AI to conduct research more like humans, including generating complex questions, independently searching for information online, synthesizing data, and drawing meaningful conclusions. This represents a significant leap towards general intelligence, helping to bridge the gap between specialized AI and broader Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
OpenAI’s growth also coincides with heightened interest from tech giants. Apple and Nvidia are reportedly exploring investments in OpenAI as part of a new funding round that could value the company at over $100 billion. This surge in value is supported by the continued success of its popular ChatGPT application, which recently surpassed 200 million weekly active users, doubling its user base from last fall.
As OpenAI continues to evolve its offerings, its ability to cater to businesses and scale its AI models reflects a growing demand for advanced AI solutions across industries.
