[majewsky]

> How do you propose they fund the free usage otherwise?

Why do random HN commenters have to come up with a business model for free LLM usage? If LLMs are so great, they should not need to offer a free tier at all. Surely word of mouth would make people line up around the block to snatch one of those highly coveted subscriptions.

[usef-]

That is happening, and they are one of the fastest growing products of all time in revenue.

But word of mouth can also say "this other provider (eg. google) is free and allows more usage" as the market matures. Google has a bigger pocketbook due to their ad income.