OpenAI has temporarily stopped accepting new subscriptions to its $200-a-month Pro plan, citing demand for Astra. The restriction concerns new sign-ups, rather than an announced shutdown of existing Pro accounts.
Product leader Thibault Sottiaux said Pro places the greatest strain on the company’s systems, according to TechCrunch’s September 10 report. OpenAI is keeping the API and lower-priced Go and Plus subscriptions available.
Sottiaux had warned a day earlier that the company might need to pause new Pro subscriptions while it worked to sustain demand. He described continued service for existing users as the priority.
OpenAI has not given a date for reopening Pro sign-ups or disclosed how many new subscriptions produced the capacity problem. Astra began rolling out on September 3.