AI costs how much? GitHub Copilot users react to new usage-based pricing system
Some report burning through their whole monthly "AI credit" allotment in a single day.
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/06/ai-costs-how-much-github-copilot-users-react-to-new-usage-based-pricing-system/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
@arstechnica Of course. Why is this a surprise? It was the drug-dealer model all along.
Jun 1, 2026, 10:31 PMAlthough I've been clean for over a decade I used to take drugs, its *worse* than that model.
I used various substances for about 20 years, and prices have remained fairly constant throughout or for some partydrugs have even gone *down* in price..
@arstechnica usage based pricing is necessary to throttle back users to something matching the resources actually used.
Someone might ask the AI to do something that would take them an hour without. Now we should see how that costs out. If it's $5 sure, $50 maybe, $500 no thank you.
This is because LLMs are inherently unprofitable.
https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-revenge-of-the-business-idiot/
They are coming for your retirement next.
@arstechnica yeah bill is coming due and turns out it is not sustainable for no one.
I would love but it was boringly predictable... except of course for media.
@arstechnica
Take this as sign - AI is shite!
@arstechnica burn it up SMART people
@arstechnica good! Maybe it will stop people using it
@arstechnica spending your whole budget in 1.2 days is what happen when price go x25. I hope they wake up and give up on the cursed tech.
@arstechnica yeah I saw that that's why I don't use
@arstechnica perfect!
@arstechnica that's what it always costed in reality, it's just your discounted trial is over now