OpenAI is preparing ChatGPT Pro Lite Rp1.6 million per month, filling the gap between Plus and Pro.

Illustration of ChatGPT subscription (photo; x @ITCUA ·)

JAKARTA - OpenAI is reportedly preparing a new subscription tier called ChatGPT Pro Lite at a price of 100 US dollars (Rp1.67 million) per month. This indication emerged after developer Tibor Blaho found references to the package in the ChatGPT web application's frontend code. Until now, OpenAI has not given an official confirmation or launch schedule, but the code trail hints at a restructuring of the pricing strategy.

Currently, OpenAI offers a number of packages, ranging from Free, Go for 8 US dollars per month, Plus 20 US dollars, to Pro 200 US dollars, in addition to Team, Business, and Enterprise options. The price hike from Plus to Pro has been criticized. Many middle-class users - freelancers, independent researchers, and developers - feel that they have no rational transition option between 20 and 200 dollars.

Pro Lite is expected to fill the empty space. Based on references in the code, this package is likely to offer a three to five times larger quota of using deep reasoning models than Plus, but still below the full capabilities of Pro. There is also an indication of wider support for Codex, OpenAI's AI-based programming tool.

This move comes amid considerable financial pressure. Although OpenAI's revenue is said to have reached 20 billion US dollars, the company is facing annual loss projections of around 14 billion dollars due to a surge in computing costs. Generative AI models require large-scale GPU infrastructure, and every token processed has a real price behind the scenes. In that context, diversifying the subscription package could be a way to expand the paid customer base without relying entirely on enterprise clients.

The competition is also heating up. Google's Gemini 3 model is reportedly dominating more than 20 percent of the market share thanks to its direct integration with Android. Meanwhile, Anthropic's Claude 4 is said to surpass OpenAI in enterprise spending. On the other hand, the sudden retirement decision of the previous GPT-4o triggered a strong reaction from some users, adding to the reputational turbulence.

Strategically, Pro Lite can be a counterweight. At a price of 100 US dollars, this package targets intensive users who need greater capacity for research, code analysis, or complex workflows, but do not yet require full access to Pro. In today's AI landscape, differentiation is not only about model quality, but also the flexibility of the access scheme.

If it is launched, Pro Lite has the potential to be the middle point that has been missing in OpenAI's portfolio. The question is not just whether this package is selling, but whether it is enough to stabilize the business model in the midst of ever-increasing computing costs and increasingly aggressive competition.

In the midst of this dynamic, OpenAI is also rumored to be developing a ChatGPT-powered smart speaker with an integrated camera. From web applications to physical devices, the company does not seem to be selling only language models, but is trying to build an AI ecosystem that sticks to users' daily lives.

In this industry, price is a strategy, not just a number. And $100 can be more than just a tariff - it is a signal that the AI war is now also taking place on the tariff subscription board