Apple may charge up to $20 per month for advanced AI features

WEB DESK: Apple’s forthcoming suite of AI features, known as Apple Intelligence, is generating considerable excitement, potentially even surpassing the anticipated iOS 18 release. However, a recent report suggests that accessing these advanced features might come with a significant cost.

Neil Shah, a partner at Counterpoint Research, shared with CNBC that Apple Intelligence is unlikely to be offered for free. Instead, users may need to pay between $10 and $20 (approximately £8 to £16 or AU$15 to AU$30) for some of its more sophisticated functionalities.

While Shah did not specify which features would be free and which would incur a fee, it is conceivable that enhancements such as the upgraded Siri or potential ChatGPT integration could be among the paid options.

Shah also speculated that Apple might include these AI features in a higher-tier Apple One subscription. This could mean that users would receive additional benefits, such as iCloud storage and subscriptions to services like Apple TV+ and Apple Music, similar to the bundle offered by Google with its Google One AI Premium plan, which includes access to Gemini Advanced AI, cloud storage, and Fitbit Premium.

There is precedent for such bundled offerings and for charging for AI services, as evidenced by OpenAI’s pricing for its most advanced ChatGPT model.

Moreover, Shah highlighted that Apple Intelligence could further entrench users within the Apple ecosystem. The AI’s ability to personalise experiences based on user behaviour would make it less transferable to other platforms, potentially increasing user reliance and satisfaction with Apple products.

However, Apple would first need to persuade users to adopt the service. It is possible that Apple might offer Apple Intelligence for free for a limited period with the purchase of an iPhone 16 or other devices to encourage sign-ups.

At this stage, all of this remains speculative. The exact details of Apple’s plans for Apple Intelligence will likely be revealed when the service launches, expected in October. In the meantime, the upcoming iPhone 16 release, anticipated for September, will be closely covered by TechRadar.

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Web Desk