OpenAI Tightens ChatGPT, Codex Usage Limits As Fundraising Plans Reportedly Shrink

What happened

OpenAI announced a shared usage limit for ChatGPT and Codex users on the Plus, Pro and Business plans, effective Dec. 31. Chats in Instant mode will not draw from the shared allowance, according to a recent blog post.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

Users who chat in ChatGPT and write code in Codex now draw from one remaining balance, so heavy use of either tool uses up the same allowance. This may push the most active customers toward higher-priced plans or make them cut usage, which affects OpenAI's revenue per user.

Analyst inference

The change comes as AI token prices fall: about $0.59 per million tokens as of Oct. 20, down 35% since the end of June, which means the raw cost of AI processing is dropping fast. Cheaper tokens make usage limits and monetization more important for AI companies.

Analyst inference

What to watch

1. OpenAI said the shared limit takes effect Dec. 31 for Plus, Pro and Business plans, while Instant mode chats stay outside the shared allowance, so watch how users divide work between the two. Confirmed
2. OpenAI is preparing to sell shares to the public, with rival Anthropic likely to list first. Watch whether the usage change and falling token prices shape how investors value AI companies at listing. Proposed
3. If the same allowance covers both chat and coding, heavy Codex users may hit limits sooner, which could pressure them to upgrade plans or shift coding work to rival tools, affecting OpenAI's revenue and customer retention. Analyst inference

Evidence

• stocktwits.com