OpenAI researchers spend over $7,000 daily on AI coding tools

OpenAI revealed that some of its researchers are spending over $7,000 daily on AI coding tools, with token costs exceeding this amount. The company noted that token usage by researchers has surged, with the top 10% consuming over $7,000 per day. OpenAI stated that this growth has significantly changed how researchers work, enabling faster code development and more complex tasks. By mid-August, the median daily token cost for researchers reached over $600, up from $162 in July. OpenAI also mentioned that internal support channels have seen a 50% drop in posts since January, as AI tools handle more technical issues. The company aims to create a fully automated AI researcher by March 2028, following last year’s goal for an automated research intern. Meanwhile, concerns over token costs have led some companies to abandon internal usage rankings, with Amazon advising against using AI solely for token consumption.