OpenAI and Google Cut Free AI Generation Limits as Demand Surges

OpenAI and Google Cut Free AI Generation Limits as Demand Surges

If you planned to spend the holiday weekend experimenting with AI tools, you might need to slow down. OpenAI and Google have both reduced the number of free daily AI generations available on their platforms, citing extremely high usage and growing pressure on their GPU infrastructure.

The announcement affects two of the most talked-about tools in the last week: OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s new Nano Banana Pro image generator.

OpenAI Lowers Free Sora Video Generations

According to Bill Peebles, who leads the Sora team at OpenAI, free users can now generate only six videos per day. He explained the change with a blunt update: “Our GPUs are melting.”

This shift is also part of OpenAI’s wider plan to increase monetization.
Free users now get:

• 6 video generations per day
• Option to buy extra generations, unlike before
• No changes to limits for ChatGPT Plus or Pro subscribers (although the exact caps weren’t disclosed)

This suggests OpenAI is prioritizing paid tiers while controlling the massive server load driven by Sora’s rapid rise in popularity.

Google Cuts Image Generations on Nano Banana Pro

Google is making similar moves.
Free users of Nano Banana Pro, the company’s experimental image generator, are now limited to 2 images per day — down from last week’s limit of 3.

The change was first noticed by 9to5Google, and Google added a note warning that:

• Limits may change frequently
• Limits may change without notice

This is in line with Google’s typical approach when new AI tools experience large spikes in usage after launch.

Google also appears to be restricting free access to Gemini 3 Pro, its more advanced AI model, although availability varies depending on region and account type.

Why These Limits Matter

Both companies are facing the same challenge:
AI models are incredibly expensive to run — especially text-to-video and high-resolution image tools.

With millions of new users testing Sora and Nano Banana Pro, GPU demand has skyrocketed. Reducing free usage:

• Helps balance server load
• Pushes users toward paid tiers
• Allows both companies to stabilize performance during peak periods

This trend suggests that free, unlimited AI generation is becoming less sustainable, especially for heavy-processing models.

What Users Should Expect Next

For now:

• Free users of Sora and Nano Banana Pro must manage their limited generations carefully.
• Paid users remain unaffected — for now.
• Both platforms may continue adjusting limits as demand evolves.

As AI adoption grows, companies will likely continue refining how much access they can offer for free while balancing cost, performance, and monetization.

TechCity