OpenAI to Develop 'PhD-Level' AI Agents at $20,000 Per Month, Redditors Compare Them to 'Workers Who Never Take a Day Off.

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch a range of specialized AI agents, with prices potentially reaching up to $20,000 per month, according to a report from The Information. These AI agents will be tailored for tasks such as sorting and ranking sales leads, software development, and high-level research.

The most expensive of these AI agents will be designed to assist with PhD-level research, highlighting OpenAI’s focus on serving advanced academic and professional sectors. Additionally, a "high-income knowledge worker" agent is expected to be priced at $2,000 per month, while a software developer agent may cost around $10,000 per month.

These pricing tiers suggest that OpenAI is customizing its AI agents for specific professional groups, with the $20,000 option for Ph. Ph.D.-level research underscoring its commitment to supporting intensive academic research efforts.

While OpenAI has not disclosed a launch date or a detailed potential customer base, SoftBank has shown significant interest, committing to invest $3 billion in OpenAI’s AI agent technology this year. The development of these agents aligns with OpenAI's strategy to boost its revenue after reporting a $5 billion loss last year due to the high costs of its services, highlighting the need for new income streams.

On Reddit, users reacted to the pricing, with one commenting, "That's kind of like hiring 8 PhDs for the price of 2." Another user added, "A PhD who works 24/7 is like four full-time PhDs who never take vacation or sick leave."

This push for high-priced AI agents is part of OpenAI’s broader efforts to expand its offerings. In February, the company launched Deep Research, a tool capable of synthesizing information from the internet to produce comprehensive reports, similar to those created by human analysts. This further demonstrates OpenAI’s aim to provide sophisticated tools that can meet complex needs across different industries.

Additionally, OpenAI recently introduced its GPT-4.5 model, which enhances the AI’s ability to recognize patterns and generate insights without reasoning. This development strengthens OpenAI’s efforts to create AI technologies that can perform intricate and creative tasks, appealing to customers in need of such advanced capabilities.

OpenAI's introduction of these specialized agents is a strategic move to diversify its product offerings and capture a broader market share. While details about eligibility and launch dates remain unclear, the high price points suggest that OpenAI is targeting corporate clients and academic institutions with the resources to invest in such advanced technologies.

As OpenAI moves forward with these plans, industry experts are eager to see how the company will position these products in the competitive AI market and how they will contribute to OpenAI's financial recovery and growth.  

Source: Business Today