A footnote in the official Galaxy S24 announcement raised questions about Samsung's plans for distributing AI features in 2025. Said note suggests that AI features similar to those introduced with the Galaxy S24 will not be free indefinitely and that the company may charge a fee for its AI tools from 2025 onward. But, according to a new report, there is no black-or-white answer, and Samsung's plans might be a bit more elaborate.
Samsung may continue to embed some AI tools in its next-generation Galaxy devices for free while charging a fee for others. ETTelecom cites Samsung Mobile President, TM Roh, saying:
“According to our analysis, there are various needs for mobile AI. So, there will be consumers who will be satisfied with using the AI capabilities for free. Then, there could also be customers who wish for even more powerful AI capabilities and even pay for them.”
TM Roh says Samsung will consider all these factors when deciding a course of action for the distribution of AI-powered tools in the future.
Not every Galaxy AI feature will be held for ransom
It sounds like Samsung might borrow a page from ChatGPT. The latter service is free, but users can pay a monthly fee in exchange for faster response times and guaranteed access during peak times.
Exactly where Samsung would draw the line between free and paid Galaxy AI features is unclear, but it is possible that the company may start charging money for more powerful future AI tools that could rely more heavily on cloud computing to complete their tasks.
Whatever the case may be, these potential changes to how Samsung will offer AI features, paid or free, are unlikely to happen before the Galaxy S25 series goes official next year.
Editor's Note: Samsung taking away existing Galaxy AI features and keeping them behind a paywall starting next year is unwise. Hopefully, the company is aware that removing what is now a core One UI feature only to then give it back for a price will cause unrest among Galaxy fans.
However, charging a fee for more advanced AI features that don't yet exist and could be developed for 2025 and onward sounds more plausible. Nevertheless, I believe the company will have to strike the perfect balance between free and paid AI to avoid criticism and will have to justify the existence of a paid tier beyond reasonable doubt. “Users are willing to pay for better AI” might not cut it.
