ChatGPT Plus is once again experiencing throttling, and it seems to be for your benefit.

      ChatGPT Plus has reinstated the frustrating five-hour limit.

      ChatGPT Plus users briefly experienced a version of the service without the five-hour Work and Codex restrictions, but OpenAI has determined that this was excessive. As of August 25, OpenAI is reinstating the five-hour usage limit for Plus subscribers on ChatGPT Work and Codex again. This limit had been temporarily lifted on July 12, allowing users to focus on their overall weekly allowance instead.

      Before getting upset online, it's important to note that regular ChatGPT conversations will not cease after five hours. This limitation specifically impacts the more resource-intensive Work and Codex features, which are designed for managing extended projects.

      OpenAI is slowing things down a bit.

      OpenAI engineering lead Thibault Sottiaux explained two reasons for reinstating the limit. Firstly, distributing heavy usage over five-hour intervals helps make the demand on OpenAI's computing resources more manageable and ensures that weekly allowances remain generous.

      Secondly, OpenAI highlights that Plus subscribers may include casual or newer users who might unknowingly consume a significant portion of their weekly quota in one prolonged session, leading to days of being locked out. This results in having to monitor two separate limits: exhausting the five-hour allowance means waiting for that window to reset, and using up the weekly allocation doesn't automatically refill it with a shorter wait. Additionally, users can buy extra usage credits instead of just waiting for the timer to run down.

      Paying more gives you more freedom—for now.

      For those holding OpenAI's higher-tier subscriptions, there is some good news. In a recent tweet, Sottiaux mentioned that the five-hour limit will not apply to the $100 and $200 Pro subscriptions in the upcoming months. These users can continue to operate based on their weekly allowances without this added five-hour restriction.

      This distinction likely aims to clarify the differences between Plus and Pro tier subscribers, especially for those using ChatGPT as a serious tool for work or coding. While the limitation was removed back in July, the freedom from the five-hour cap was only temporary.