New Delhi, May 12 -- As artificial intelligence (AI) takes on larger chunks of software work, more information technology (IT) services firms are working out new ways to charge for it. From AI tokens and usage-based rate cards to subscriptions and prepaid credits, large and mid-sized outsourcers are moving away from the traditional bill-by-the-hour model for work done by humans, as clients seek more predictable costs and outcome-based pricing for AI-led delivery.

Six months after two large IT services companies devised new billing structures for AI work, more large and mid-sized firms are adopting similar models, signalling that AI-linked pricing is becoming mainstream. EPAM Systems is factoring AI token costs into deal structures, while...