Key Takeaways
- Apple may charge for premium AI features in Apple Intelligence in the future.
- Falling device sales have prompted Apple to explore monetization options.
- Apple Intelligence subscriptions may provide additional AI features and access to multiple chatbot platforms.
Apple may start charging for at least some of the AI features in Apple Intelligence. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple Intelligence will be free when it’s released as part of iOS 18, but Apple plans to monetize the new AI features in the long term to make up for shortfalls caused by declining device sales. Eventually, Apple Intelligence may have a two-tier structure, with free standard features and additional features available for a subscription fee.
Related
Your iPhone probably can’t run Apple Intelligence
If you don’t own an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you’re missing out on some of iOS 18’s best features.
Why is Apple trying to monetize Apple Intelligence?
The pace of hardware upgrades is slowing
apple
Traditionally, Apple has been able to encourage consumers to upgrade their Apple hardware periodically by offering new designs, upgraded cameras, and other new hardware features. But in recent years, the pace of these upgrades has slowed, and with it, the pace at which people are buying new iPhones.
Apple is looking for ways to make up for this revenue shortfall, and service fees and subscriptions are avenues the company sees as a potential way to fill the hole. The plan is to start making money from AI, which has been very difficult so far. According to Mark Gurman, this means we could see a subscription version of Apple Intelligence in the future.
What will the Apple Intelligence subscription be like?
apple
It’s unlikely that Apple will charge for all of Apple Intelligence’s features. As companies race to be the first to include new AI features in their phones, Apple Intelligence is more likely to be something Apple will use to entice people to upgrade their phones. For example, the new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18 will only run on the current iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, so if you don’t have one of those iPhones, you’ll have to upgrade to get the new AI features.
But ultimately, according to Mark Gurman, Apple Intelligence+ A paid tier that gives access to additional AI features on top of the standard feature set. It’s unclear what this paid tier will be, but there are a few things Apple might do. For example, Apple Intelligence will be released with ChatGPT integration, but Apple also plans to partner with other AI chatbot companies and is in talks with Google, Anthropic, and even Meta.
Finally, a fee is required
Apple Intelligence+
A tier that provides access to additional AI capabilities on top of the standard feature set.
One way Apple will monetize these features is by allowing free users to choose one AI chatbot platform to use with Apple Intelligence, while giving Apple Intelligence+ subscribers access to all platforms. Apple will take a cut of the subscription fees when users subscribe to these AI chatbots through their iPhone.
It’s also possible that Apple will develop additional features that are only available to subscribers — for example, Google has added powerful AI tools to Gmail, such as the ability to summarize email threads and compose replies, but these are currently only available to subscribers.
Related
Some Apple Intelligence features won’t arrive until 2025
You may have to wait a little longer to take advantage of Apple Intelligence’s best features.
