GitHub’s AI billing shift signals the end of free enterprise tools era

GitHub began enforcing monthly limits on its most powerful AI coding models this week, marking the latest example of AI companies transitioning users from free or unlimited services to paid subscription tiers once adoption takes hold.

“Monthly premium request allowances for paid GitHub Copilot users are now in effect,” the company said in its update to the Copilot consumptive billing experience, confirming that billing for additional requests now starts at $0.04 each. The enforcement represents the activation of restrictions first announced by GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke in April.