LIMITS GPU : Google and OpenAI Reduce Free Limits on Nano Banana Pro and Sora

The era of unrestricted free AI services may be drawing to a close. In a simultaneous move that underscores the immense infrastructure strain facing the generative AI industry, both OpenAI and Google have dramatically scaled back free user limits on their most advanced media creation tools: OpenAI Sora update for video generation and Google Nano Banana Pro for image generation.

The AI image caps and video restrictions were implemented just ahead of the high-traffic holiday season, signaling a shift toward sustainable monetization and reflecting the brutal reality of GPU demand surge.

I. OpenAI’s Restrictions: ‘Our GPUs Are Melting’

The most dramatic cut came from OpenAI, restricting access to its powerful text-to-video model, Sora.

• Sora Limits: Free users of Sora are now limited to six video generations per day, a severe reduction from the much more generous access offered at the model’s launch.
• The Cause: GPU Demand Surge: The reason for the tight AI generation limits was stated candidly by Bill Peebles, head of Sora at OpenAI. In a social media post, he explained the platform is struggling under overwhelming demand and stated, “Our GPUs are melting,” highlighting the enormous computational and physical hardware costs of generating high-fidelity video.
• Monetization Push: Peebles confirmed that limits for paying subscribers (ChatGPT Plus and Pro) remain unchanged, and free users who need more access can purchase additional generations, making this move a clear effort toward monetization and capacity management.

II. Google’s Tightening: Nano Banana Pro and Gemini 3 Pro Access Downgrade

Google followed suit, making its own AI prompt limits vague and reducing its AI image caps for non-paying users.

• Nano Banana Pro Changes: Google Nano Banana Pro image generation, which was previously capped at three images per day for free users, has been reduced to just two images per day. This reduction in the AI image caps is due to the image generation and editing remaining in high demand.
• Gemini Access Downgrade: Access to the underlying large language model, Gemini 3 Pro access, has also been restricted. Free users are no longer guaranteed a fixed daily number of prompts; instead, they are granted “basic access”, where daily limits may change frequently and without notice, depending on current server load warnings.
• Paid Tier Stability: Like OpenAI, Google AI updates ensure that paid subscribers (Google AI Pro and Ultra plans) retain their high usage limits, emphasizing the priority given to paying customers during periods of strained capacity.

III. The Industry Context: The End of the Free Honeymoon

The simultaneous tightening of free user limits by both Google and OpenAI marks a significant inflection point for the industry.

• Cost Reality: The candid nature of the GPU demand surge warnings confirms that generating media (especially video with Sora) costs significantly more in compute resources than generating text. The previous model of offering nearly unlimited free access was simply unsustainable as user numbers and AI holiday usage soared.
• Monetization Focus: These AI generation limits signal a clear shift from a “growth-at-all-costs” strategy, where companies subsidized free access to capture market share, to a “monetization-first” model. The goal is now to gently nudge power users toward paid subscriptions to make the massive infrastructure investment financially viable.
• Competitive Dynamics: By restricting free tiers together, both companies avoid being the sole target of user frustration, cementing the trend that the best and most reliable AI tools now come with a price tag.

FAQs: AI Generation Limits and Costs

Stay informed with Nuvexic for daily updates, forecasts, and strategies across every category of news.