Unsolicited Feedback Credit Anxiety: When Nobody Knows What AI Really Costs
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Sep 30, 2025 In this discussion, Aaron White, founder of Appy.ai and former CTO at Vendr, shares his expertise on the shifting landscape of AI in the software industry. He and Brian Balfour dive into how unpredictable AI costs are driving a move from subscription models to credit-based pricing, often confusing consumers. They explore the rise of AI procurement agents, which pit products against each other in real-time, and discuss the implications of Notion launching an agent platform, leading to a loss of differentiation in tools. Join them as they unpack these challenges and envision an AI-first future.
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Credit Pricing Feels Opaque
- Credit-based AI pricing is opaque and unpredictable for most users, causing hesitation and frustration.
- Aaron White predicts hybrid models now and cost-based models staying long-term as utilization becomes central.
Humans Resist Cost-Based Buying
- Customers resist cost-plus pricing because it adds cognitive load and breaks simple purchasing heuristics.
- Brian and Aaron expect AI to become a utility priced by utilization, but humans will fight that transition.
Use Hybrid Pricing To Reduce Friction
- Use credits and pricing anchors to shape user expectations since pure token meters confuse buyers.
- Favor hybrid guarantees or predictable bundles to avoid users under-engaging from fear of unknown costs.