Uber leadership expressed uncertainty about whether continued large AI spending is producing directly useful consumer outcomes. The stated issue is the lack of a clear line between AI cost increases and measurable improvements in features that drive continued use and payment. Microsoft and Anthropic shifted AI coding tool pricing from flat fees to usage-based token or frequency billing. These changes increased costs for users and companies, with some reporting three times or more expense compared with earlier subsidized pricing. The pricing shift raises pressure to demonstrate value through consumer-relevant results over coming quarters and years.
"“That link is not there yet, right? I think maybe implicitly there is more that is getting shipped, but it's very hard to draw a line between one of those stats and, 'Okay, now we're actually producing 25 percent more useful consumer features.' I think over the coming quarters and years, maybe that will become clearer, but I think today it's hard, even if some of the underlying metrics are trending in a really astronomical direction.”"
"“In April, Microsoft announced a big change to how it charged people for using GitHub Copilot, its own AI coding tool. Instead of charging a flat monthly fee, it is now going to charge users per token burn.”"
"“That same month, Anthropic also changed how it charged people to use Claude, its AI coding tool and service. Like Microsoft, people and companies now have to pay based on how often and frequently they use the tool each month.”"
"“This has quickly made using these AI tools-and those powered by them-much, much more expensive. Like, using these tools now could cost three times or more than it did before these changes were implemented, back when tech giants were subsidizing the costs and eating billions in losses.”"
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