OpenAI has launched Flex processing, a new API option aimed at lowering costs for AI model usage by providing slower response times. Designed for lower-priority tasks, Flex processing reduces API costs by 50%, making it ideal for model evaluations and data enrichment. The service is currently in beta for OpenAI’s o3 and o4-mini models. This move comes as competitors like Google introduce more affordable AI solutions. Additionally, OpenAI has implemented an ID verification process for developers in the lower usage tiers to access certain features.