ai-cost-check

Calculate per-request and per-user AI costs and recommend optimizations.

16|3|Updated Oct 23, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/breethomas/bette-think --skill ai-cost-check
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ai-cost-check
Source: https://github.com/breethomas/bette-think/tree/main/plugins/bette-think/skills/ai-cost-check
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/breethomas/bette-think --skill ai-cost-check

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Many product teams skip upfront economics modeling for AI features and later discover they cannot sustainably afford the marginal costs of serving users. This Skill helps you decide whether an AI feature is necessary and financially viable before investing in development.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Premise challenge: Ask tough validation questions to confirm user need and willingness to pay before modeling costs.
  • Economics modeling: Estimate cost per request, per user/month, and project expenses at scale across different models and token sizes.
  • Verdict & optimizations: Classify features as sustainable, viable with optimizations, or unsustainable and suggest fixes like caching, model selection, and prompt optimization.
  • Use case: Evaluate a "personalized product recommendation" feature to compare GPT-4 Turbo vs GPT-3.5 costs, forecast monthly spend at 10k users, and produce an optimization plan.

Quick Start

Run ai-cost-check with the feature name to receive a per-request and per-user cost model, a verdict on viability, and recommended optimization paths.

Frequently Asked Questions about ai-cost-check

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I estimate AI feature costs before building the feature?

To estimate AI feature costs before building, calculate per-request and per-user monthly expenses by projecting token sizes and API usage across different models. This upfront economics modeling computes marginal costs at scale to determine financial viability before development.

What is AI cost as a percentage of revenue and when do I need it?

AI cost as a percentage of revenue is a financial projection comparing your total AI serving expenses against expected income. You need this metric during pre-launch product planning to confirm user willingness to pay can sustainably cover marginal scaling costs.

How do I calculate per-user AI costs at scale across different models?

Calculate per-user AI costs at scale by simulating expenses for 10k or more users, comparing model selections like GPT-4 Turbo versus GPT-3.5. This cost modeling projects monthly spend variations based on different token sizes and usage frequencies.

Can I challenge the premise of a proposed AI feature during feasibility reviews?

Yes, you can challenge the premise of proposed AI features during feasibility reviews by asking tough validation questions. This process confirms actual user need and willingness to pay before you invest in development or attempt expensive financial projections.

What are the best ways to optimize AI feature costs for user-facing capabilities?

The best ways to optimize AI feature costs include implementing caching strategies, selecting cheaper models, and applying prompt optimization. These adjustments classify unsustainable features as viable by reducing per-request token usage and overall scaling expenses.

When should I avoid building an AI feature due to unsustainable scaling costs?

You should avoid building an AI feature when cost modeling classifies it as unsustainable, meaning optimizations like caching and cheaper models cannot reduce marginal costs below your revenue threshold. Premise validation also helps reject features lacking user willingness to pay.