But if you use ChatGPT's free version, it COSTS them money

Still burning fuel and water to use it, ruining the environment for free!! Whoopee!!

This is kind of line saying when you use uber or airbnb it costs them money. It also fluffs up their user base and evaluation so they can secure more investors while they try to train the public to forget how to function without their service in preparation for the eventual rug pull price hike

...But you add to their metrics as a user - a future paying user! - and they'll use those metrics to get more funding.

Lol if you use the paid version it costs them money!