OpenAI has launched an image generation feature in its API, prompting discussions about pricing and quality compared to competitors. While the cost of $0.04 for a medium 1024x1024 image is competitive, users report that the quality may not meet the standards set by existing models like Imagen 3 and Flux 1.1 Pro. Issues with prompt effectiveness and image generation speed (over 15 seconds) have also been raised, making it challenging for users to derive value for commercial applications. There is a demand for SVG generation capabilities among users, who express frustration with the current AI tools yielding sub-par results compared to traditional methods such as Canva. This has led to questions about potential pricing strategies and the need for organizational verification to access the new model.