The New Wealthy Affiliate Looks Promising—Part 4 of 5

Tokens, Usage, Limits, and What “Anything and Everything” May Cost

Approval Without Knowing the Cost

In Part 3, I looked at what Ace might be allowed to do and what should still require our approval.

But something else occurred to me while we were working through that.

Even after we give Ace permission to do something, do we know what that task is going to cost?

I do not just mean money coming out of a bank account.

It could be tokens, AI credits, platform allowances, processing time, outside services, or other limited resources inside Wealthy Affiliate. Some of that may be included with our membership. Some of it may cost extra. Right now, I do not think we know exactly how all of that is going to work.

A small task may not use much at all.

But what happens when we ask Ace to review an entire website, study our analytics, create images or video, or carry out a workflow across several parts of the business?

That may sound like one request to us, but it could turn into a much larger job behind the scenes.

Before Ace begins something substantial, I would want it to tell me what it expects to use and whether there may be an additional cost.

And I mean before it starts.

If Ace gets into the work and finds out that the task is larger than expected, or that it needs another paid tool, service, model, or block of credits, it should stop and bring that to our attention.

It should explain what changed, why the added expense is needed, what it is expected to accomplish, and then ask for permission before continuing.

Giving Ace permission to begin the task should not automatically mean that we have approved costs we did not know about when we gave it.

So the main question I want to look at in Part 4 is this:

Before Ace begins a task, will we understand what it may use, what it may cost, and be able to limit how far it goes?

The Original Preview and the Scale of Kyle’s Vision

This series started with Kyle’s Beer With Kyle presentation about agentic AI and the rebuilt Wealthy Affiliate:

Beer with Kyle Fridays: Agentic AI and a First Look at the New Wealthy Affiliate

He later talked more about it in:

If You Build It, They Will Come. So We Are Building It.

The more I thought about what Kyle was describing, the bigger it started to sound.

Ace may not just be another AI tool that helps us write an article or answer a question.

Kyle talked about connecting different parts of the business, newer SEO workflows, video creation, and managing several businesses from one place.

He also used the phrase “anything and everything.”

That sounds good.

But it also makes me wonder how much may be going on behind one request.

We may ask Ace to do one thing.

But is it really only doing one thing?

It may have to research, write, create images or video, study analytics, use automation, or move through several connected steps across more than one Hub or business.

A short piece of text may not use much.

But reviewing an entire website, comparing analytics, creating a video, or carrying out a larger workflow could be something else entirely.

Right now, I do not think we know how the final pricing, token system, credit allowances, or membership limits are going to work.

We also do not know which tools will be included and which ones may cost extra.

Kyle has shown us a large part of the direction Wealthy Affiliate is heading.

But I do not think we have all of the details yet.

And the more Ace may be able to do, the more I think we need to know what it is using while it does it.

If Ace may eventually help us do almost anything and everything in the business, then we should also know what each task may use, what is already included, and when it may begin to cost more.

What Are Tokens, Credits, and Usage?

One thing that could get confusing very quickly is that Wealthy Affiliate may have several different kinds of balances, credits, or limits, and they may not all mean the same thing.

We already have Cash Credits, affiliate earnings, and AI Credits.

Ace may bring other kinds of usage with it.

That could include tokens, platform allowances, image or video credits, outside-service charges, or something else we have not seen yet.

Right now, I do not think we know exactly how all of that is going to be organized.

So, before we start using any of it, I think we need to know exactly what each of them means.

What does each balance actually represent?

What can it be used for?

Does it expire?

Does it roll over?

Can it be purchased?

Can WA earnings or Cash Credits be used to pay for it?

And is it money we can withdraw, value we can only use inside WA, or credit that only works with one particular tool?

Those are not small differences.

A member should not have to guess what a number means or find out only after the balance starts going down.

And one task may not use just one of them.

Writing text may use one type of allowance.

Creating images or video may use another.

Ongoing monitoring or automation may continue using resources while it runs.

A more powerful AI model may cost more than a simpler one.

Some tools may be included with membership, while others may require extra credits, another subscription, or an outside service.

I am not saying this is how the final system will work.

I am saying that, before Ace starts doing larger jobs for us, all of this needs to be explained clearly.

We need to know what each balance is, what uses it, whether it can cost extra, and when Ace needs to stop and ask us before using more.

We should not have to figure out what a balance meant after it is gone.

A Small Request May Hide a Large Task

This is where I think it could get easy for us to misunderstand what Ace is actually doing.

We may type in one request and think of it as one task.

But Ace may have to do several things behind the scenes before it can give us the result.

For example, suppose I ask Ace to help me improve an older article.

That sounds simple enough.

But what does “improve” mean?

Does Ace only read that one article?

Or does it also check the rest of the website to see what other articles connect to it?

Does it look at traffic, rankings, internal links, affiliate links, comments, search intent, and whether the information is still current?

Does it compare the article with newer content?

Does it create a new image, rewrite part of the article, update links, change the call to action, and then watch the results afterward?

What looked like one request may turn into a much larger job.

The same thing could happen with video.

We may ask Ace to make one video from an article.

But that may involve reading the article, deciding what should be included, writing a script, creating or finding images, generating a voice, adding music, putting the video together, formatting it for different platforms, and possibly publishing or scheduling it.

Again, that is not really one small action.

It is a group of actions connected together.

And if Ace is working across several businesses, websites, or Hubs, one request could become larger still.

I am not saying Ace should not be able to do that.

That is part of what could make it so useful.

But I do think we need to see the size of the task before it starts.

Ace should be able to show us the main steps it expects to take.

It should also tell us which parts are likely to use the most tokens, credits, time, or outside services.

Then we can decide whether we want the whole job done, only part of it, or a smaller version first.

A request may look small from our side of the screen.

That does not mean the work behind it is small.

Estimate, Limits, and Stop Points

If Ace is going to carry out larger tasks, I do not think a simple yes-or-no approval will always be enough.

Before it starts, I would want some kind of estimate.

That estimate may not be exact.

Ace may find out that the job is larger than it first looked, or that one part of it needs more research, more processing, another tool, or more credits than expected.

That is understandable.

What I would not want is for it to keep going without telling us.

Before a larger task begins, Ace should tell us what it expects to use.

That could include tokens, credits, time, outside services, or any other limited resource connected to the job.

It should also tell us which parts are most likely to use the most.

Then we should be able to set limits.

Maybe we only want it to use a certain number of credits.

Maybe we only want it to work on one article instead of the whole website.

Maybe we want the research first, but not the rewrite.

Maybe we want a draft video, but not the final version.

Or maybe we want Ace to stop after the first stage and show us what it found before going any further.

Those choices should belong to us.

I also think Ace needs clear stop points.

If it reaches the limit we set, it should stop and tell us.

If the task changes, it should stop, explain what changed, and ask whether we still want it to continue.

If it discovers that another paid tool, service, model, or block of credits is needed, it should stop and tell us before using it.

If its estimate turns out to be wrong by more than a reasonable amount, it should stop, explain why, and show us what that means for the rest of the job.

Then it should tell us what has been completed, what is left, what the next step may cost, and whether there is a smaller or less expensive way to continue.

After that, we decide what happens next.

We may want it to continue.

We may want it to scale the task down.

We may want it to use a cheaper option.

Or we may decide the rest of the job is not worth doing.

Giving Ace permission to begin should not mean giving it permission to keep using resources until the job is finished, no matter how much larger the job becomes.

The estimate does not have to be perfect.

But the limits, stop points, explanations, and next decision should be clear.

Lower-Cost and Smaller-Scale Options

Even if a task would be useful, we may not need the biggest or most expensive version of it.

Ace may recommend reviewing the whole website.

But do we really need the whole website reviewed right now?

Maybe we only need it to look at one article, one category, or one part of the business first.

It may be able to create a finished video.

But maybe we only need the script, an outline, or a rough version before we decide whether the rest is worth doing.

It may suggest using a more powerful AI model, an outside service, or another paid tool.

But is that really necessary for what we are asking it to do?

I would want Ace to show us the cheaper and smaller choices too.

Maybe it can use fewer steps.

Maybe it can limit the job to one part of the business.

Maybe it can use something already included with our membership.

Or maybe it can start with a less expensive model or tool.

Then it should tell us what changes with each choice.

What do we gain?

What do we give up?

Would the cheaper option take longer?

Would it be less detailed?

Would we have to do part of the work ourselves?

And would it still be good enough for what we actually need?

I would not want Ace to assume that the biggest or most complete option is automatically the best one.

Sometimes we may only need to test the idea first.

Have Ace review five articles instead of five hundred.

Create one short video before building a whole video campaign.

Test one workflow before connecting every part of the business to it.

Then we can look at what it produced, what it used, and whether doing more makes sense.

Ace may be able to do the whole job.

But before it does, it should show us whether a smaller and cheaper version may do what we actually need.

Do We Need the Task at All?

There is one more question Ace should help us ask before using tokens, credits, time, or outside services.

Do we need the task at all?

Just because Ace can do something does not mean the business needs it done right now.

It may suggest creating more content.

But do we really need another article?

It may recommend a video.

But is video the best way to answer the question, or would updating the article we already have do more?

It may suggest a new workflow, another tool, or a larger review of the business.

But is there actually a problem that needs fixing?

I would want Ace to explain why it thinks the task is needed before it starts using resources on it.

What problem is it trying to solve?

What evidence says that problem exists?

What happens if we do nothing for now?

And is there something more important that should be done first?

This matters because an AI may always be able to find more work.

There will always be another article to update, another image to create, another platform to post on, another report to study, or another workflow to build.

That does not mean all of it needs to be done.

Sometimes the best answer may be to leave something alone.

An older article may still be doing what we created it to do.

A workflow may not need another step.

A new video may not be worth the time or credits if the subject is already covered well somewhere else.

And a task that sounds useful may still be a distraction from what the business needs most.

Ace should be able to tell us when a task is probably not worth the cost.

It should also be able to say when the evidence is weak, when the benefit is uncertain, or when waiting may give us more information.

I do not want an AI that keeps finding work just because it can do the work.

I want one that can help us decide whether the work needs to be done in the first place.

What Did the Work Actually Produce?

When Ace finishes a task, I would want more than a message saying the job is complete.

I would want to see what it actually produced and whether it matched what we approved.

If Ace creates a video from an article, did it also create a transcript, captions, a title, a description, a thumbnail, source notes, and links back to the article?

If the video is going to become a vlog, I would want the transcript included with it.

Some people would rather watch the video. Others would rather read it. A transcript would also make the material easier to search, review, quote, and use again later.

The same thing applies to other work.

If Ace rewrites an article, it should show us what changed, why it changed it, what sources it used, and what we still need to check.

If it builds a workflow, it should give us a record of the steps, settings, and limits.

Before the task began, Ace should already have told us what it expected to use and what it expected to produce.

Afterward, we should be able to compare that with what actually happened.

Did it produce what it said it would?

Did it solve the problem?

Was it worth what the task used?

More output does not automatically mean more value.

Keeping Businesses, Projects, and Costs Separate

Kyle has talked about managing several businesses from one place.

That could be very useful.

But if Ace is working across several Hubs, websites, or projects, I would want to see what belongs to each one.

Suppose Ace is helping me with my author website, my MMO site, and one of my story projects.

How much did each one use?

What work was done for each one?

Is one of them using more than we expected?

We should also be able to set separate limits and priorities.

One project may be the one I am trying to finish first. Another may need to stay within a smaller limit. A third may need to be paused.

Ace should not assume that all of them have the same priority.

If work can be reused between projects, that may save resources. But Ace should show us when it is doing that.

I would also want the line between included and extra costs to be clear.

What comes with the membership?

What uses credits?

What requires another subscription or outside service?

Do unused credits roll over or expire?

Can Cash Credits or WA earnings be used to pay for them?

And what happens if the included amount runs out in the middle of a task?

Ace should not quietly move us from included usage into paid usage.

It should stop, tell us what changed, and ask what we want to do.

Protecting New Members From Accidental Waste

I think this may be even more important for new members.

Someone just starting may not yet know what a task is worth, which tools are necessary, or what part of the business should come first.

They may see Ace recommend a full website review, a video campaign, or another paid tool and assume that is what they are supposed to do.

I do not think new members should be blocked from using the more powerful tools.

But I do think the starting limits and permissions should protect them until they understand how the system works.

Ace could begin with smaller limits, clearer explanations, and more stop points.

If a new member asks Ace to “fix my website,” it should not take that as permission to begin changing everything.

It should ask what they mean, explain what it found, and help them decide which problem should be handled first.

A new member may need Ace to slow the process down, not speed it up.

They should not have to learn what tokens, credits, limits, and recurring charges mean by losing them first.

Powerful Tools Need Visible Costs

The rebuilt Wealthy Affiliate may give Ace the ability to do far more than the AI tools we use now.

That is exciting.

But “anything and everything” may also mean that a task is larger, more complicated, or more expensive than it first appears.

I do not expect every estimate to be exact.

I do expect the system to be clear.

We should know what Ace plans to do, what it expects to use, and what may cost extra.

If that changes, Ace should stop, tell us, and let us decide what happens next.

The more Ace can do, the more important it becomes that we can still see the costs, set the limits, and make the final decision.

Looking Ahead to Part 5

So far, I have looked at whether Ace will understand the business we already built, whether it will help improve what we already have before creating more, how much control it should have, and how clearly it should show us what its work may use and cost.

That still leaves one larger question.

What kind of business partner could Ace become?

Could it learn how our particular businesses work, remember the decisions we make, help us see what needs attention, and carry out the work we approve without taking over the judgment that should remain ours?

That is where I want to end this series.

In Part 5, I will bring the earlier questions together and look at what I hope Ace may become—and what it should never replace.

This Five-Part Series

Part 1: The New Wealthy Affiliate Looks Promising—But Will It Understand the Business We Already Built?

Part 2: The New Wealthy Affiliate Looks Promising—Will Ace Improve What We Already Have Before Creating More?

Part 3: The New Wealthy Affiliate Looks Promising—How Much Control Should Ace Have?

Part 4: The New Wealthy Affiliate Looks Promising—Tokens, Usage, Limits, and What “Anything and Everything” May Cost

You are here.

Next—Part 5: What kind of business partner could Ace become, and what should it never replace?

Sources and Related Discussion

Kyle’s original presentation:

Beer with Kyle Fridays: Agentic AI and a First Look at the New Wealthy Affiliate

Kyle’s later discussion of the rebuilt platform:

If You Build It, They Will Come. So We Are Building It.

Kyle has described the larger goal of Hubs as understanding the business as a connected system.

The questions in this article about tokens, credits, usage limits, estimates, stop points, included costs, transcripts, project tracking, and beginner protections are my own exploration of what members may need as Ace becomes more capable.

They should not be read as confirmation that every feature or pricing system discussed here has already been announced or finalized.

A Note About AI Assistance

Yes, I used ChatGPT to help me organize, draft, and polish this blog. But my hands were in every part of it.

The ideas, questions, concerns, and final decisions are mine. I reviewed every section, challenged wording that did not sound like me, requested changes, and decided what stayed in the blog.

I also added my own plans, experiences, opinions, concerns, and examples wherever they helped explain what I was trying to say.

AI helped me shape and organize the work. It did not replace my judgment, my experiences, or my voice.

JD