Full Breakdown
Anthropic Adjusts Claude Usage Limits Amid Growing Demand
3/28/2026, 12:29:45 PM
Changes to Claude's Usage Caps
Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude model, recently announced adjustments to its usage limits for users across all subscription tiers, including free, Pro, and Max. Thariq Shihipar, a member of Anthropic's technical team, revealed that during peak hours—defined as weekdays from 5 am to 11 am Pacific Time—users will experience a faster depletion of their five-hour session limits. This change means that approximately 7% of users, particularly those on Pro tiers, may hit their session caps sooner than before. Shihipar advised users to schedule token-intensive tasks during off-peak hours to maximize their session limits.
OpenAI's Strategic Response
In response to Anthropic's new restrictions, OpenAI has taken the opportunity to attract users by removing caps on its Codex platform. Thibault Sottiaux, the engineering lead for Codex, announced via Twitter that all usage limits have been reset, allowing users to experiment freely with the platform's new plugins. This strategic move appears to coincide with Anthropic's announcement, suggesting that OpenAI aims to capture users who may be dissatisfied with the new limitations imposed by Claude.
Background on Anthropic's Growth
Anthropic has experienced increased interest in its AI offerings, particularly after CEO Dario Amodei declined to provide the Pentagon unrestricted access to its models. The company is focusing on its enterprise business while managing the growing demand for its services. However, the surge in usage has led to challenges in balancing compute resources, as users are consuming more capacity than ever before. This situation reflects broader trends in the AI industry, where companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are investing heavily to keep pace with demand.
Criticism of Usage Management
The adjustments to Claude's usage limits have drawn criticism from users who prefer unrestricted access to AI tools. Many users expect to utilize these services on-demand rather than planning their sessions around specific time frames. The shift from incentivizing off-peak usage to imposing limits during peak hours has been characterized as a negative reinforcement strategy. Critics argue that such changes may alienate users who rely on consistent access for their work.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Anthropic's adjustments have been framed as a necessary response to increased demand, there is a lack of clarity regarding the exact impact on user experience. The company's communication has been described as opaque, making it difficult for users to understand how these changes will affect their daily interactions with Claude. Additionally, the long-term implications of OpenAI's strategy to attract users with unlimited access remain uncertain, as the competitive landscape continues to evolve.
Verbatim Quotes
- “To manage growing demand for Claude we're adjusting our 5 hour session limits for free/Pro/Max subs during peak hours.” — Thariq Shihipar, Anthropic Technical Team
- “You can just build unlimited things with Codex. Have fun!” — Thibault Sottiaux, OpenAI Engineering Lead
- “We're continuing to invest in scaling efficiently.” — Thariq Shihipar, Anthropic Technical Team
- “I think there's some amount of irreducible risk here, and I absolutely don't want to deny this," Amodei said during The New York Times' Dealbook Summit.” — Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO
As the AI landscape continues to shift, both Anthropic and OpenAI are navigating the complexities of user demand and resource management, with implications for their respective user bases.
