It will take years before Apple Intelligence’s AI features become so compelling that people are willing to pay money to use them, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman believes. In his opinion, the iPhone maker “will need three years” to create a product worth charging for, and only if it succeeds in that time frame.
Gurman previously said that Apple’s long-term plan is to roll out Apple Intelligence+ AI features that will provide additional capabilities and will be available to users as part of a paid subscription. The company already has a tiered subscription scheme for iCloud, so Apple Intelligence could well follow a similar scenario. This means that in the future, access to basic Apple Intelligence features may remain free, while access to more advanced tools will require a paid subscription.
Current Features and Future Plans
Currently, the first Apple Intelligence features are available in beta versions of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, and we are talking about text message generation tools, some Siri improvements, and image manipulation tools. Most of the updates will appear after the stable versions of the new operating systems are released, and more advanced AI features will appear later as they are ready for mass distribution.
In addition to the mass deployment of Apple Intelligence features announced at WWDC 2024, Apple still has a lot of work to do to distribute AI features to more regions of the world, including China and the European Union. The features Apple announced in June will most likely not be available until 2025, and there is no information yet on when they might appear outside the US. Against this background, the assumption that Apple will start charging for using Apple Intelligence only in a few years seems quite logical.
When Apple starts charging for Apple Intelligence, the cost of the AI features could be included in an iCloud+ or Apple One subscription. Counterpoint Research analyst Neil Shah estimates that Apple Intelligence could cost between $10 and $20 per month. A basic Apple One subscription currently costs $19.95 per month and includes 50GB of iCloud+ cloud storage, Apple TV+, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade, notes NIXSOLUTIONS.
As Apple continues to develop and refine its AI offerings, we’ll keep you updated on any new developments or changes to their plans. The company’s cautious approach to rolling out these features globally and potentially monetizing them in the future aligns with their typical strategy of perfecting products before wide release.
The timeline for Apple Intelligence’s evolution remains uncertain, but it’s clear that the company is committed to advancing its AI capabilities. Whether it will take the full three years Gurman suggests or if Apple will surprise us with faster progress remains to be seen. As always, the tech giant’s moves in this space will be closely watched by industry observers and consumers alike.