OpenAI has officially introduced ChatGPT Pro, a premium $200-per-month subscription plan that provides unlimited access to all of OpenAI’s models, including the advanced o1 “reasoning” model. This announcement confirms earlier leaks and positions ChatGPT Pro as a solution for power users who frequently push AI boundaries in fields like math, programming, and writing.
The o1 model distinguishes itself by attempting to check its own work while reasoning through tasks. Unlike traditional AI models, it employs a planning-based approach to tackle complex problems, which improves accuracy but can lead to slower response times. Compared to its September preview, the latest o1 version delivers faster, more accurate results, especially in coding and mathematics. Additionally, o1 now supports reasoning about image uploads and provides more concise responses to enhance efficiency. Internal testing shows a 34% reduction in major errors on challenging real-world questions compared to the preview version.
Notably, ChatGPT Pro subscribers gain access to an enhanced “o1 pro mode,” which leverages more computational resources for improved performance on complex tasks like data science, programming, and case law analysis. External evaluations indicate that o1 pro mode outperforms both o1 and its preview version, achieving a 75% reduction in errors on everyday coding questions and excelling in machine learning benchmarks.
Despite its strengths, o1 faces challenges. On certain benchmarks, like MLE-Bench, the full version underperforms its preview counterpart. Nevertheless, OpenAI plans to integrate o1 into its API, adding capabilities such as function calling, web browsing, and image analysis in future updates.
ChatGPT Pro also includes unlimited GPT-4o access and Advanced Voice Mode, enhancing conversational abilities. To broaden adoption, OpenAI has announced grants for medical researchers and other disciplines.
Priced significantly higher than the $20-per-month ChatGPT Plus plan, ChatGPT Pro caters to a niche audience. The steep cost reflects investor pressure to mitigate OpenAI’s substantial losses, projected at $5 billion this year, despite monthly revenues of $300 million. While ChatGPT’s 300 million weekly users generate considerable income, only 10 million are paying subscribers. OpenAI’s ambitious strategy aims to monetize its leading AI technologies while exploring innovative applications.