Subscriptions articles

A $200 ChatGPT subscription could cost OpenAI $14,000 if you actually used it to its full potential

Bottom line: The math behind AI subscriptions is starting to look uncomfortable. Flat monthly pricing helped fuel the rapid adoption of tools like ChatGPT and Claude, but new analysis suggests those fees may not come close to covering the actual cost of heavy use. As users push these systems harder and more demanding AI workflows take hold, the gap between revenue and compute costs is becoming difficult to ignore.

Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac will no longer edit documents after July 13

GitHub just switched Copilot to metered billing, and developers are watching months of credits vanish in a single day

Gen Z is turning subscriptions into short-term rentals for shows, movies, and games

Xbox may be working on an even cheaper Game Pass, and possible Netflix bundle

Microsoft lowers Game Pass Ultimate and PC prices, won't include next Call of Duty

Microsoft admits Game Pass may have gotten too expensive

Xbox's new CEO is exploring cheaper Game Pass tiers to boost growth

YouTube adds downloads and background play to Premium Lite plan

US video game sales climb 3% in January, even as layoffs and studio closures deepen

HP's latest offer turns gaming laptops into a monthly subscription

BMW admits heated seat subscriptions were a mistake, but the paywalls aren't going away

You can now rent an LG TV for hundreds per month instead of buying it

A 1988 VHS privacy law could block how advertisers get your data

Meta is testing paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp

Microsoft 365's latest outage is a reminder that the cloud isn't always there

Facepalm: Since launching Windows 365 in 2021, Microsoft has aggressively promoted its cloud PC subscription service, some say to the detriment of local computing. However, recent outages have illustrated the new risks that arise when users and businesses offload their software and files to external servers. Is Windows 365 reliable enough to become a pillar of IT?

Tesla is making drivers pay monthly for features the car already has

Call of Duty's chart-topping run comes to an end

Bottom line: Amid Microsoft's ambition to turn Game Pass into gaming's dominant business model, one of its most valuable assets is showing signs of strain. Call of Duty, a $35 billion global franchise known for annual billion-dollar releases, appears to be in decline less than two years after Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

ChatGPT is getting ads soon, starting with free users

FTC sues AI chatbot startup Pearl over alleged deceptive billing practices

Spotify is raising US subscription prices again – here's how much more you'll pay

Tesla ends Full Self-Driving purchases, shifts to subscription-only next month

Spotify plans US subscription price hike for early 2026

Netflix doubles down on TV gaming and social play in a bid to keep subscribers

Microsoft apologizes for upselling Copilot bundles, offers refunds to millions of users

What just happened? Just days after facing a potentially costly complaint from Australian regulators, Microsoft is now seeking to resolve the issue amicably. The company has expressed regret over its failure to properly communicate information about cheaper subscription options, though authorities in Canberra could still pursue a harsh penalty.