As AI technology advances, its premium costs are creating significant disparities in access between those who can afford it and those who cannot. Freelance individuals, like YouTuber Alex Wei, are finding it difficult to compete against clients using AI tools instead of human creators, especially as costs for AI subscriptions rise dramatically. For instance, OpenAI now charges a 'pro' tier subscription that can be equivalent to months of wages in developing countries. This ongoing trend risks widening the innovation gap between wealthier companies that can afford AI and smaller entities that cannot, reinforcing existing economic inequalities. Some experts argue that without regulatory interventions, AI may become another facet of global inequality akin to the early days of the internet. While there is hope that competition will drive costs down and open-source solutions may emerge, many call for strategies to ensure that the benefits of AI are equitably distributed, fostering a landscape where diverse voices can thrive in an increasingly automated world.

Source đź”—