DistantNews
Support us
Anthropic Delays Usage-Based Pricing for AI Model Amid User Pushback
🇰🇷 South Korea /Technology

Anthropic Delays Usage-Based Pricing for AI Model Amid User Pushback

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • AI company Anthropic has extended the access restriction for its top model, 'Claude Fable 5,' for existing subscribers by seven days, delaying a shift to a usage-based pricing model.
  • The company initially planned to transition to a per-token pricing system on August 8 but has postponed it to August 19, citing increased usage and a need to manage costs.
  • This extension comes after previous delays and amid user complaints about potentially higher costs, with competitors like OpenAI highlighting their models' cost-effectiveness.

AI firm Anthropic has granted a seven-day reprieve to users of its premium 'Claude Fable 5' model, delaying a planned shift to a usage-based pricing structure. The company announced on its official X account that access for all paid plans would be extended until August 19. This move comes as Anthropic grapples with the increasing computational demands of its advanced AI, which has led to a surge in token usage.

Until the 19th, access to Claude Fable 5 will be extended across all paid plans.

— Claude official X accountAnnouncing the extension of Fable 5 access for paid subscribers.

Originally slated for an August 8 transition, the company aimed to implement a "pay-as-you-go" system where users would be charged based on the number of tokens processed during AI interactions. While a usage-based model already existed for API users and automated processes, subscribers on fixed-rate plans like "Pro" ($19/month) and "Max" ($110/month) had enjoyed virtually unlimited access to Fable 5. However, Anthropic is now pushing for a broader adoption of usage-based billing to improve profitability, a trend seen across major tech companies.

After the 19th, Claude Fable 5 will not be included in the weekly usage limits of the rate plan.

— AnthropicReiterating the plan to transition to usage-based pricing after the extension period.

The extension is seen by industry observers as an effort to appease users, particularly after Fable 5's service was temporarily restricted for foreign users due to U.S. export controls. The model's service resumed on August 1 after safety measures were enhanced, but the subsequent announcement of the pricing change sparked backlash, with users anticipating an eight- to twentyfold increase in costs. This delay also coincides with the launch of OpenAI's competing model, "GPT-5.6," which boasts higher performance at a fraction of the cost, suggesting Anthropic is keen to retain its user base amidst fierce competition.

Users will have to activate the 'additional usage' based on token usage to use Fable 5.

— AnthropicExplaining the post-extension access requirements for Fable 5.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog