AI giant expects major surge in paid users as new revenue models, including shopping and ad tools, come online
Artificial intelligence powerhouse OpenAI is projecting a massive expansion of its subscription business, estimating that at least 220 million ChatGPT users will pay for premium access by 2030.
According to a joint report from Reuters and The Information, citing a source familiar with the company’s plans, OpenAI expects around 8.5% of an anticipated 2.6 billion weekly ChatGPT users to subscribe to paid tiers, placing the chatbot among the world’s largest subscription-driven platforms.
As of July, roughly 35 million users, or about 5% of ChatGPT’s weekly active audience, were subscribed to the service’s Plus or Pro packages, priced at $20 and $200 per month. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the figures, and OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Despite its rapidly growing revenue, the company is also burning through cash at a significant rate. OpenAI’s annualized revenue run rate is expected to reach $20 billion by the end of the year, yet the firm continues to post mounting losses.
The Information previously reported that the company generated $4.3 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025, about 16% higher than all of last year, but spent $2.5 billion, largely on research and development for advanced AI systems and the infrastructure needed to operate ChatGPT at scale.
OpenAI is also diversifying its revenue streams. The company expects around 20% of its future earnings to come from new features tied to advertising and shopping. This week, it launched a personal shopping assistant within ChatGPT, a move seen as an early step toward monetizing the platform through ads or commission-based retail partnerships.
