Apple Intelligence: Not all AI features will be free, you will have to pay

While most features of Apple Intelligence are free, some may require a subscription, according to journalist Mark Gurman. The tech giant’s strategy appears to mirror its approach with iCloud, where basic features are free but advanced options require a paid subscription. This “Apple Intelligence+” service can be integrated into an existing Apple One subscription.

For Apple, this could represent a significant shift in its revenue model. As hardware upgrades become less frequent sales drivers, The company can focus on AI services as a new source of recurring revenue. This strategy could put Apple in a strong position in the AI ​​race, potentially allowing it to leverage AI in ways that other Silicon Valley giants are still exploring.

Apple wants to make money from its artificial intelligence

But the move raises questions about adoption and user satisfaction. Limiting Apple Intelligence to devices with at least 8GB of RAM already limits its availability to higher-end models after the iPhone 15 Pro. Adding a subscription for advanced features could further reduce the user base, potentially impacting customers’ decisions to upgrade to newer iPhone models.

The success of this strategy will largely depend on how Apple balances free and paid features, which is something the company will likely have to do. Carefully determine which features will remain accessible to all users and which features are locked behind a paid subscription.

The company is reportedly in talks with other AI providers, including OpenAI and potentially Google and Anthropic, to offer their services via Apple devices. This could result in a tiered system where basic AI functionality would be free, but access to more advanced or specialized AI tools from third-party providers would require a subscription. It’s also not yet known when Apple Intelligence will arrive in Europe, as the company seems intent on keeping us off the hook for the latest AI-powered features for now.