In January 2024, Samsung released the Galaxy S24, powered by several advanced features collectively called Galaxy AI. However, though the features help users in their day-to-day lives, they won’t always be free. Previously, we reported how the AI-based features will be available in the select models till 2025, after which the company might start charging for them. Now, TM Roh has thrown some light on the same.
Samsung Might Lock Some Galaxy AI Features Behind A Paywall
In an interview with ET Telecom, TM Roh says that the company will factor in some users’ desire to use advanced AI features and pay for them. However, Roh also mentions that some users want to use the feature for free. Hence, in future decision-making, the company “will take all these factors into consideration.” Although this sounds vague initially, there’s a hint that the company will introduce more powerful features in the coming years.
Hence, there’s a good chance that Samsung will make some features, like text summarization or translation, available on the devices for free. However, more advanced features that depend on generative AI might be locked behind a paywall. Whether these will be locally processed features or those that rely on the cloud still needs clarification. Nonetheless, this is the first time that Samsung has openly spoken about Galaxy AI’s future.
Samsung Should Allow Free Access For The First Few Years
Given that Samsung is already selling their phones at a premium price, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra being available in India at around Rs. 1,29,999, it is slightly disappointing that the company isn’t including free access to the features forever. It would be like how the German automaker BMW offers post-purchase upgrades like ConnectedDrive and iDrive. Their vehicle has the features, but people can’t use them without paying the subscription fee.
Later this year, Apple is also expected to release several AI-based features with iOS 18. Although we expect the features to be available across the iPhone 16 lineup, it won’t surprise us if some features are reserved for the high-end iPhone 16 Pro models.
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