The cat’s out of the bag. Samsung plans to charge users for its Galaxy AI smart features some time in the near future, corroborating similar rumours that have been going around leading into the January 17 Unpacked. Launched alongside the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy AI is a suit of local and cloud-based AI features, some rolled out in partnership with “third-parties” like Google.
What’s surprising is how Samsung chose to bury this crucial detail inside a footnote, not mentioning it even once at an event that focused entirely on Galaxy AI. If you head over to its official product pages for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra, and scroll down at the very bottom, you’ll find a note that says clearly, “Galaxy AI features will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.”
There are two parts to it. Firstly, Samsung reserves the right to charge Galaxy S24 series users (and those using devices like the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Flip 5) for using its Galaxy AI features. By how much, we don’t know yet. It can choose not to, as well. But you should know that it can, no questions asked. The other bit applies to third-parties. Like Google. The wording suggests, they may be allowed to charge users “separately”, for features like Circle to Search.
The service model isn’t new to companies offering Generative AI tech. Both OpenAI and Microsoft “sell” pro subscriptions of ChatGPT and Copilot, respectively. The model isn’t unheard of in the smartphone space, either. Google itself puts few of its Pixel 8 series AI features behind a Google One paywall. Also, you’ll have to buy the pricier Pixel 8 Pro to access all of its features (at least Samsung is distributing them evenly across the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra). If anything, it may be a sign of changing times as device makers start to think beyond specs and devices get deeper AI integration.
Still, the fact that Samsung chose to remain silent on the topic doesn’t do it any favours. Plus, the company also did not share more granular insights like say, needing a Samsung account log in and an internet connection for many of the Galaxy AI features to actually work. Another way of looking at all this is: Samsung is committing to supporting its Galaxy S24 devices for seven years, but it is giving Galaxy AI “services” for free for only two years, something that could sting on a product like the Galaxy S24 Ultra that can go as high as Rs 1,59,999. We’ll see how things pan out soon enough.
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