Altman says AI will be sold by usage like electricity
A video clip of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman describing artificial intelligence as a metered utility has spread widely online, reigniting debate about how access to advanced AI should be controlled and priced.
Altman made the remarks during a conversation with Global Infrastructure Partners chief executive Bayo Ogunlesi at the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit 2026 in Washington on March 11. In the discussion, Altman outlined a future where intelligence functions as a basic service similar to electricity or water.
“We imagine a future where intelligence is a public utility like electricity or water, and people buy it from us on a meter,” Altman said. A short clip from the conversation, posted on X by the account @TheChiefNerd on March 12, quickly attracted millions of views.
During the event, Altman explained that the core business model for OpenAI and other AI developers would revolve around selling tokens. In AI systems, tokens represent units of text or data processed by the model when generating responses.
According to Altman, a metered pricing model allows companies to manage limited computing resources during periods of heavy demand. Instead of continuous unlimited access, users would pay for advanced intelligence as they use it.
Altman also emphasized OpenAI’s goal of expanding access to AI services. He said the company aims to make advanced intelligence widely available so people can use it in everyday tasks. His comments follow a recent funding round that valued OpenAI at about $110 billion and included backing from major technology investors such as Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank. The company has been investing heavily in computing infrastructure to support the growing demand for AI systems.
The remarks triggered strong reactions on social media platforms. Some users compared the concept of metered intelligence to dystopian scenarios from science fiction. One user on X wrote that the idea sounded like the beginning of a “Black Mirror episode,” suggesting that charging for intelligence could reshape how people think and work.
On Reddit, a widely shared comment highlighted another possible implication of Altman’s analogy. If AI truly becomes similar to electricity, the commenter argued, providers might eventually face strict regulation as public utilities, potentially limiting profit margins and increasing government oversight.
Other observers responded more pragmatically. Some noted that access to AI tools does not automatically translate into value unless users understand how to apply them effectively. In that view, widespread availability of AI would require education and practical skills to ensure the technology benefits its users.
Altman has previously framed artificial intelligence in similar terms. At a Federal Reserve event in July 2025, he said OpenAI was moving toward a world where intelligence would become extremely inexpensive, claiming the cost of producing AI capabilities had fallen more than tenfold each year over the previous five years.
However, his latest remarks have gained renewed attention as the public debate over AI infrastructure, energy consumption and economic access continues to grow. As AI systems become more deeply embedded in everyday life, questions remain about whether such tools should be priced like commercial services or treated as essential digital infrastructure.
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