Is There a Cost to Using CreateAI?
One of the most common questions we receive from faculty and staff is:
“When I see the price listed next to a model in CreateAI, does ASU actually pay that? Should I be worried about assigning this to my students or using it with a large class?”
Short answer: At this time, you do not need to worry about being charged or your department receiving a bill for CreateAI usage.
Who Pays for CreateAI Today?
Today, Enterprise Technology (ET) funds the infrastructure and AI model usage for nearly all CreateAI projects, including faculty-led assistants, classroom use, and large-enrollment courses.
AI services are not free to operate as every prompt and response incurs costs that are paid to AI providers. At this time, those costs are covered centrally by ET rather than by individual faculty, departments, or students.
Why Do We Still Show Model Pricing?
You may notice that some models in CreateAI show a pricing estimate (e.g., $0.01 per 1,000 tokens). This is included for transparency, to help users:
- Understand that there is a real cost to using AI tools
- Compare the efficiency of different models
- These prices reflect the actual cost ASU pays to AI providers for model usage. They are displayed to help users understand the tradeoffs between models and encourage thoughtful use of university resources. These prices are informational only and you are not billed based on them today.
Will This Always Be Centrally Funded?
While there are no current plans to charge individual users or departments, CreateAI continues to grow rapidly. As the platform evolves, ASU may evaluate long-term funding models to ensure the service remains sustainable.
If our approach to funding ever changes, we will communicate those changes well in advance and provide guidance to help users make informed decisions.
Our Ask:
Because AI usage has a real cost, even though ET currently covers it, we encourage everyone to choose models intentionally and use resources responsibly. Thoughtful usage helps us continue providing broad access to the ASU community.
If you ever have questions about model costs, data usage, or how to manage your projects efficiently, feel free to [email protected] or drop into every Wednesday from 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Zoom Link: https://asu.zoom.us/j/89092293944
We’re here to support you!
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