🎙️ Is ChatGPT worth the $25 a month?

In this episode of AI and the 99%, Dietmar from Argo.Berlin tackles the big question facing startups, freelancers, NGOs, and small businesses: should you pay for a tool that also has a free version? The answer may surprise you.

We dig into the economics behind free vs paid AI, why “free” isn’t really free, and why paying might actually save you money in the long run.

Along the way, you’ll hear eye-opening insights into how companies like OpenAI manage costs — and what that means for everyday users.

🔥 Key Highlights

• Why ChatGPT costs money to run (and why OpenAI may lose money even on paid plans)

• The hidden economics of “free AI” and why firms subsidize access

• Practical advice for freelancers, startups, and NGOs deciding whether to upgrade

• Why the $25 subscription could be the smartest investment you make in your workflow

  
  

💬 Quotes from the Episode

• “The difference between the free versions and the paid versions is huge.”

  “It’s quite probable that even with the paid subscription, they lose money — because they have to pay the servers.”