Why Kagi launched "no use, no pay"

Is there anything that prevents Kagi from doing an OpenAI and going for profit?

Kagi is already for profit, they just haven’t raised a huge amount of money:

> Kagi can afford this because they go further than being bootstrapped and profitable: As a Public Benefit Corporation, not beholden to maximizing shareholder value.

They are for profit, they're just a "public benefit corporation". I don't know exactly what that means and I don't think it comes with any obligations (like being a non-profit would).

It's the same status Patagonia has. I think it's more of a signal to investors (we won't maximize your gains) and a brand boost with the community.

What is the actual difference?

As far as I can see it explicitly allows management to consider public benefit, which is something they can do anyway (certainly if the shareholders allow it).