OpenAI Tests Outcome-Based Pricing for AI Agents Amid Astra Launch Prep

OpenAI is testing outcome-based pricing for its AI agents, charging customers only when tasks are completed. This shift away from conventional usage-based pricing gives providers an incentive to sell results.

The company is reportedly joining Salesforce and other AI providers in experimenting with this new model. OpenAI's revenue rose 18% quarter over quarter to $6.7 billion in the second quarter, while Anthropic's sales doubled.

OpenAI has been previewing its Astra model, which can handle tasks continuously for days or weeks. Astra can coordinate multiple agents and operate across software tools, according to tech journalist Alex Heath. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly told attendees that Astra could be the first model where AI 'invents new things in a way that matters.'

The pricing shift comes as OpenAI prepares to launch Astra, its next-generation model focused on AI agents. The company hasn't set a date for its public rollout, and has reportedly delayed the model after internal testing suggested it could reach its highest 'critical' cybersecurity capability threshold.