“Free” image generation isn’t free. You’re paying for it whether you use it or not.

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OpenAI

flat-rate AI subscriptions hide a pretty wild cost-to-value mismatch, and image generation is the issue. the spread in what users actually cost on the same plan is easily 10-100x. someone running agentic coding loops doing real work pays the same $20 as someone generating hundreds of images a day. the GPUs don’t care which one you are. you average it across the user base and post one price. image generation is one of the heaviest GPU workloads in consumer AI. sustained, iterative, on expensive h

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