Meta has been generously sharing its AI advancements for free, but that’s about to change. According to insiders, Mark Zuckerberg is gearing up to start charging for some of the company’s AI tools and research, likely to recoup the massive costs of development. Think of it as the end of the "free samples" era—now they want a return on their investment.

Editor’s Note: Meta’s shift from open-access AI to monetization isn’t surprising—tech giants can’t bankroll cutting-edge research forever. But it raises questions: Will this slow down innovation if smaller players lose free access? And how will it reshape the AI landscape? For businesses and developers relying on Meta’s tools, it might be time to start budgeting.