Archive — US — techcrunch
ChatGPT’s new AI image feature is delayed for free users
OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman announced that the new AI image features for ChatGPT will be delayed for free users due to unexpectedly high demand. Currently, only paid subscribers can access these features, with free users left waiting as the company addresses capacity issues and prepares for future infrastructural improvements.
Key points
- Sam Altman announced a delay in the rollout of AI image features for free users due to higher than expected demand.
- Only paid subscribers (Pro, Plus, Teams) currently have access to the new image generation capabilities.
- This is not the first time OpenAI faced delays; previous product launches were also hindered by compute capacity limitations.
- Future improvements may be supported by OpenAI's planned $500 billion Stargate data center project to alleviate these constraints.
Why it matters
- The delay aligns with 2025 IT trends emphasizing robust infrastructure to support AI demands.
- OpenAI's struggle with capacity mirrors industry-wide challenges as companies race to keep up with the rapid growth of AI technologies.
- The situation underscores the increasing popularity of generative AI tools and the necessity for ready infrastructure.
The delay in image features for free users highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges for OpenAI, reflecting broader trends in the tech industry where demand for advanced AI capabilities is outpacing supply.