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OpenAI reports surging token usage for researchers using AI coding agents

Internal token use reached hundreds of dollars daily per researcher, according to Business Insider.

Updated Sep 7, 2026 · 11:48 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • OpenAI disclosed that its median researcher consumed more than $600 in tokens daily for AI coding agents as of mid-August.[Business Insider]
  • Top-tier users in the 90th percentile accounted for over $7,000 each day based on API pricing equivalents.[Business Insider]
  • The organization stated it built an automated research intern and aims to deploy a fully automated AI researcher by March 2028.[Business Insider]

Key facts

  • OpenAI reported that median researchers in its research division consumed over $600 per day in AI coding agent tokens as of mid-August.[Business Insider]
  • The 90th-percentile users consumed more than $7,000 in tokens each day.[Business Insider]
  • The disclosed costs are modeled on public API inference rates rather than actual cash expenses incurred by OpenAI.[Business Insider]
  • OpenAI claims it completed an automated research intern and aims to deliver a fully autonomous researcher by March 2028.[Business Insider]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact out-of-pocket dollar cost to OpenAI remains undisclosed because figures rely on external API pricing estimates.[Business Insider]
  • Whether OpenAI will successfully develop a fully autonomous AI researcher by its target date of March 2028 is unverified.[Business Insider]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.