• Running large language models (LLM) requires significant computing resources, To keep the service available and sustainable, a cost recovery scheme has been introduced 
• LLM charge is based on usage of API, which varies between models being selected
• The use of API can be via either chatbot access from HKUST GenAI Platform and Open WebUI, or direct API Access
• Every user is granted a free HK$8 credit balance each month, this free credit would not be carried forward
• Credit balance updates almost instantly. Once your free credit reaches zero, API access is suspended until you add additional paid credit. User could top up paid credit to continue to use the API services in the following link  https://pmt2.ust.hk/openai/. The paid credit will remain available for future use until fully consumed.
• Some of the AI models are free (e.g. DeekSeek and Llama). However, using these free AI models is subject to fair usage policy
• For Azure Open AI model and Google Vertex pricing, pleased refer to the links below

         Azure OpenAI Pricing 
         https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/cognitive-services/openai-service/ 

        Google Vertex AI Pricing 
         https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/pricing