Understanding AI Limitations, Features, and Usage Tracking

This page provides detailed information about AI limitations, AI-listed features, usage tracking mechanisms, and answers to frequently asked questions. It will help you navigate and understand the different AI features available in your plan, how usage is tracked, and what to expect with the new pricing plans.

AI Feature Limits

Your plan includes a set number of uses for AI-powered features each month. If you reach your limit, you can upgrade your plan to keep using these features. For details on each plan, visit our pricing page. If you are on a legacy plan, click here for more info.

Key Points:

  • Each user's AI limit is individual; it’s not shared across a team.
  • Only editor seats have access to AI features.
  • If an AI feature doesn’t work as expected, you may need to contact support or reply to an open request for help or credits.

Types of AI Features and Their Limits

AI features are divided into several categories, each with specific limitations and behaviors. Here’s an overview of the AI features and how they are tracked:

Quota Type Features
Underlord Basic AI Suite
  • Studio Sound
  • Green Screen
  • Filler Word Removal
  • Shorten Word Gaps
  • Edit for Clarity
  • Remove Retakes
  • Add Chapters
  • Automatic Multicam
  • Image Generation (1 use = 4 images generated, including generating variations)
  • Center Active Speaker
  • Repurpose Media Options (Create Clips, Highlights, etc)
  • Publish Options (Draft Social/Blog Posts, Show Notes, Summarize, etc)
  • Write Options (Draft Script/Outline, Brainstorm, Rewrite, etc)
  • Custom Prompts
Underlord Advanced AI Suite
  • Eye Contact
  • Translate
Professional AI Suite
  • Translation with Correction (Captions and Dubbing)
AI Speech
  • Text-to-speech (TTS)
  • Regenerate
Dubbing Minutes
  • Dubbing Minutes
  • Translate Speech (Autodubbing of Audio and Video)

Understanding Usage Tracking

Here’s how usage tracking works for different AI features:

  • Effects: 1 use = # of files the effect gets applied to (e.g., Studio Sound, Green Screen).
    • Note: We track usage immediately before sending the request for processing. This means you will be charged even if the effect fails. Contact support or reply to an open request, and they can manually credit for these failed uses.
  • Editing Actions: 1 use = 1 “Submit” for actions like Edit for Clarity, Remove Retakes, etc.
  • Text-to-speech (TTS): The length of generated AI speech counts towards TTS minutes. TTS usage works within a "bucket" system that doesn’t reset when you upgrade. For example, if you're on a plan with 30 minutes per month and upgrade to a plan with 2 hours per month, the minutes you’ve already used will count towards the new plan’s limit. Users may occasionally exceed their TTS limit slightly before Descript restricts further usage. When this happens, Descript will restrict usage until the next monthly reset.
    • Note: Every time the AI speech is regenerated, or the AI speaker is changed, it will count toward your TTS minutes. For example, editing even a section in Write mode will result in additional TTS usage as the speech is regenerated.
  • Regenerate: 1 use = 1 submission/accepted regeneration.

In-App Alerts for Usage

In-app icons and callouts are thoughtfully placed throughout the app to keep you informed about your usage and limits. They help you stay aware of your current usage and guide you on how upgrading your plan can provide more access when you're approaching or exceeding your quotas.

Key Points:

  • In-app callouts alert you when you are approaching your quota.
  • They do not decrement usage themselves but provide information on usage limits.
  • Upgrading through these callouts can help you continue using the needed features without interruption.

With the introduction of these visual alerts and notifications, you now have a more interactive way to monitor your usage. These alerts include icons and notifications that help you stay informed about your quota status.

Visual Alerts:

    • Hourglass: Indicates that you are close to reaching your limit. You may see this notification when you have 3 uses left before reaching your quota.
    • Lock: Indicates that you have hit your limit and the feature is locked. Once you reach 0 uses left, the feature will lock, and you must upgrade your plan to continue using it.
    • Lightning Bolt: Indicates that the feature is not available with your current plan type. If you see this icon, it means the feature requires a plan upgrade, and you'll have the option to upgrade your plan to access it.

These alerts ensure you have clear and timely information about your usage, helping you make informed decisions about upgrading your plans to continue enjoying the full benefits of the Descript's AI features.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is AI usage tracked?

AI usage is tracked individually for each editor. Each person using an editor seat has their own quota for AI features, so usage isn’t shared across your team or organization. Only editor seats have access to AI features; if you're on a basic seat, AI features won’t be available.

When do my usage limits refresh?

Most plans have monthly usage limits that reset based on your billing cycle. At the beginning of each billing period, you get a fresh allocation for AI features, so you can start using them again without carrying over any previous usage. This reset ensures that you have access to all the tools you need each month.

What happens if an AI feature doesn’t work as expected?

If an AI feature fails to process, we aim not to deduct usage for it. However, in some cases, usage may still be counted. If this happens, you can contact our support team or reply to an open request, who can help by reviewing your usage and potentially crediting any failed attempts back to your quota.

What happens to my AI quota if I change my plan?

When you upgrade from a Free to a paid plan, your AI quota resets to match the new plan’s limits so you can fully enjoy the AI features provided. For upgrades between paid plans, any remaining usage for Text-to-Speech (TTS) or other AI features carries over to the new plan. If you downgrade, the change will apply at the start of the next billing cycle.

How can I keep track of my usage?

You’ll see alerts in the app when you’re close to reaching your usage limit, such as hourglass icons or callouts. These visual indicators don’t reduce your usage but give you a heads-up so you can plan accordingly. Once you reach your limit, you’ll see a lock icon if a feature is restricted, and you may need to upgrade to continue using it.

What changes should I expect for legacy plans?

Legacy plans will keep their current features and pricing. However, the Free plan is being updated to include limits on AI feature usage. To see a full comparison of legacy and new plans, including details on available features and any limits, please check out our Legacy Plan Comparison.

Is there an API I can use for Descript?

Access to the Overdub API, which was previously limited to enterprise plans, is no longer available.