OpenAI pauses new Pro subscriptions due to Astra demand

OpenAI temporarily stopped new sign-ups for its Pro subscription tier, saying Pro usage puts the most strain on its infrastructure. The company is adding capacity before reopening sign-ups.

Why it matters: This is a concrete signal that compute capacity, not model capability, is now a binding constraint on OpenAI's consumer business, directly following the GPT-6 Astra launch. It underscores why the recent wave of compute deals and power purchases are becoming existential rather than optional for frontier labs.