Chapter 1: The Transition to a Credit-Based System

Recently, if you've been following the advancements in AI image generation, you might be aware that DALL-E2, OpenAI's innovative tool that creates visuals from straightforward text prompts, has shifted from a free, unlimited access model to a credit-based payment system. Users can now buy credits in increments of $15, or they will receive a monthly refill—50 credits in the first month and 15 credits in the following months.

Take a look at the chart below.

Image by OpenAI

To promote broader usage of DALL-E2, OpenAI has introduced a program providing 350 subsidized credits weekly for ten weeks. This initiative amounts to a total of $45 in credits.

Image by Jim Clyde Monge

Starting from August 15, OpenAI will credit your account with 350 credits each week for ten consecutive weeks, concluding on October 24. Users will have until November 7, 2022, to utilize any remaining credits; after this date, any unused credits will be reassigned to another participant in the program. This marks the inaugural phase of our subsidy initiative, and we are eager to gather feedback on how we can best support users in integrating DALL-E into their creative processes. We appreciate your involvement in the DALL-E community and look forward to witnessing your creations!

I was keenly awaiting the results of my application for the subsidy submitted on August 5. At that moment, my balance was just $60.

Image by Jim Clyde Monge

A week later, I received an email confirming my approval from OpenAI.

“Hello! Thank you for joining our artist assistance program. Later today, 350 credits will be added to your account, and this will repeat every Monday for ten weeks. Just a reminder, any unused credits after November 7 will be transferred to another artist in need of support. In a few weeks, I'll follow up to ask about your experience with the subsidy. We are eager to learn how we can enhance this program for artists requiring assistance. I'm excited to hear about your upcoming projects using DALL-E! Best regards, Natalie.”

Fantastic news!

I quickly checked my balance, which had increased to 450 credits.

Image by Jim Clyde Monge

OpenAI has stated that this subsidy program is aimed at understanding real-world applications of the tool and refining their service to facilitate broader commercial utilization. By expanding access, we can gather insights into practical use and continue to improve our safety measures.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you, DALL-E2 team!

Image generated with DALL-E2

That’s all for now! I'm off to dive into some fun and creative experiments with DALL-E2. If you enjoy reading similar content on Medium, consider supporting me and countless other writers by subscribing to a membership.

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