AI companies are moving away from traditional per-user licensing fees. They are now charging for the actual work their tools perform, a model described as selling 'units of labor' or 'units of productivity.' This fundamental shift in software economics aims to unlock larger corporate spending pools.
According to a recent Goldman Sachs analysis, this strategy allows firms to tap into new budget allowances. The investment bank's note, based on meetings with about 40 software and internet companies, suggests the change is driven by the need to justify the high costs of building and running AI. Pricing based on delivered value, rather than simple access, is seen as a key to maintaining strong profit margins.