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RNet: Users pay for their own AI usage instead of apps covering token costs
Developers currently pay for AI usage and then recover costs through subscriptions, rate limits, or pricing tiers. This creates a few problems:
1.Apps have to track per-user usage and build complex billing logic.
2.Users end up paying multiple times for the same underlying AI across different apps.
I’m experimenting with a different model: users fund their own AI usage directly, similar to prepaid mobile data.
In this system:
1.Users preload a balance
2.Each request is signed by the user
3.The cost is deducted from the user’s balance per request
4.Apps don’t pay for tokens or manage billing
I built a prototype called rNet. The protocol is live, with client libraries available (npm, Maven), and the docs are open:
https://www.rnetai.org/
This is still early, and I’m mainly looking for feedback—where does this break (technically, economically, or from a UX perspective)?
- kay_o 5mo ago- Add a field for users to paste their key and endpoint URL in - You are done Why do you need "rnet" ? ????
- rNetAi 5mo agoend users are not technical and don’t want to deal with things like API keys, setups, or complicated integrations.
- late_night_fix 5mo agoPrepaid toknes for every AI request sounds like a step backwards in UX unless you've solved invisibility complexity.
- rNetAi 5mo agoUsers recharge a balance like a prepaid data plan. rNet deducts from that balance for each AI request.
- leros 5mo agoWhy not just pass through charges for them? Let them pre-buy credits or charge them for usage. Seems like a huge hassle for users to setup.