OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said AI will become a utility similar to electricity or water, sold through usage-based pricing [1, 2, 3].
This shift in business modeling would move AI from a subscription-based software service to a fundamental piece of global infrastructure. By treating intelligence as a metered resource, OpenAI aims to integrate AI into the foundational operations of industries and homes [1, 4].
Altman detailed this vision during a public conference in March 2026 [1, 2]. He said the technology will be an on-demand service that powers everyday life and professional environments [1, 4].
"We see a future where intelligence is a utility like electricity or water and people buy it from us on a meter," Altman said [1].
The proposed model mirrors how cities manage essential services. Instead of a flat monthly fee, users would pay for the specific amount of "intelligence" they consume [2, 3]. This approach allows the company to monetize the technology based on the actual scale of its application across different sectors [1, 4].
Altman said that people will buy intelligence from the company on a meter [2]. This transition suggests a move toward AI as a commodity, where the focus shifts from the tool itself to the volume of processing power, and cognitive output delivered to the end user [1, 2].
“"We see a future where intelligence is a utility like electricity or water and people buy it from us on a meter."”
The transition to a utility-based model indicates that OpenAI views AI not as a standalone product, but as a primary layer of the modern economy. If AI is priced like water or power, it could lower the barrier for small-scale entry while creating a massive, recurring revenue stream for the provider, potentially leading to a market where a few large firms control the essential "intelligence" supply for the entire world.
