Is Samsung AI going to be paid?

In the emerging era of AI, where everyone is offering AI tools for free, industry giant Samsung made a bold move. If you know, Samsung’s Bixby, a once-free AI assistant that is nestled with Galaxy devices, is now under the purview of a paid subscription. Not only that but from the Galaxy S24 announcement, some signs are evident that from next year onwards, Samsung will charge fees for providing AI services.

Since this is not an official announcement, we cannot specify the occurrence of any particular thing. But this hint was indicated by Samsung. Do you know how the entire industry revolves around it? And if they start charging fees for AI tools and services, then what would be the impact on the industry, the AI market, and Samsung? So, to provide relevant opinions, we are sharing our views on it.

The Rise of AI in Smartphones

Majorly, there are three aspects to the rise of AI in smartphones: user ease with AI features, increased competition to develop the best AI tool, and Samsung’s grip on the industry with AI as a weapon. So, with these three poles, let’s understand how AI rises in smartphones.

• Tempting AI features: Before taking a broad overview of Samsung’s hint to turn its AI server into a paid one, you should know how AI evolved and gained demand, especially for smartphones. Look at Siri, Alexa, and Bixby—these names are synonyms for smartphone AI magic. Before that, people used to operate their phones with boring navigation. From there on, AI stepped into this space and made navigating or doing boring phone functions on voice and gestural tips. Apart from that, the AI added to the phone camera made people crave it and be attracted to it.
• Increased competition for AI: Besides the realisation of the AI need in smartphones, when tech companies found that people were demanding AI-associated features, one-to-one companies introduced their tools. For this, the best examples are Google Assistant, Apple Siri, and Samsung Bixby. Fortunately, this move created stiff competition in the market, and ultimately, users got the best innovation in terms of AI. But among them, even today, Samsung’s Bixby showcases a unique approach.
• Samsung’s differentiation with AI tools: It has unique differentiation compared to other options. Some unique things are deep ecosystem integration, contextual understanding, customisation and openness, and so on. And the best part is that, as of now, Samsung has never charged a single amount for serving such unique AI. But now the question arises: if somewhere they introduce their paid version, then how do these unique costs justify its cost? I mean, will deep integration become premium only? Or will there be any other subscription setup? To learn about these impacts, let’s discuss them in the next section.

Making Galaxy AI Paid: A Strategic Shift

According to Samsung’s US Website S24 Page Footnote, Samsung is planning to charge fees for their AI services from December 31, 2025 onwards. Yes, from Bixby to voice commands, everything on Samsung will now be part of the paid tiers. As per the plan, those users who purchase Galaxy phones before 2025 get a two-year grace period. I mean, until December 31st, 2025, they can enjoy all the Galaxy AI features for free.

After the grace period, those craving AI on Samsung phones need to pay a definite amount. However, Samsung has not revealed the exact subscription plans. But remember that Samsung ensures that some essential AI features, like basic voice commands and scene recognition, are in the camera. Well, Samsung has decided to get AI services paid for, but the question arises as to why they decided so.

Why Samsung decided to make free AI services pay

Look, making any service from free to paid has a lot of reasons, but for a tech giant like Samsung, a lot of questions arise, especially about the earning capability of the company. Since they have not mentioned any reason for this move, we found something relevant to it. Based on different aspects and factors, here are some possible reasons why Galaxy AI should be a paid service.

• To meet the research and development costs associated with advanced AI.
• To prioritise wide resources and restructure the entire organisational structure
• To differentiate their unique features from those of ordinary ones
• To use the data received from paid users for further improvement
• To enhance the brand image and increase revenue

Potential Implications for Users and the Market

The above move, which is to make Samsung AI services pay, will have a diverse influence on the industry. I mean, it has a combination of implications and impacts. For this, I tried to find and observe that after Samsung made their existing free AI service available in paid tiers, the price became a barrier for normal users, and somehow experts might hesitate to use Bixby.

Similarly, the market gets stiffer as once Samsung becomes successful with the paid tiers, then for sure other companies will also start making it paid. From now on, competition will reach a turning point. Meanwhile, Samsung’s paid Galaxy AI move is a calculated game with both potential rewards and risks. The impact on user experience, market trends, and even ethical considerations remains to be seen.

Final Thoughts

To conclude the key aspects of Samsung’s paid Galaxy AI strategy, delving into its implications for both the company and the broader smartphone AI market. As Samsung takes this strategic leap, it will be interesting to observe how it shapes the future landscape of AI integration in smartphones. The long-term impact may not only influence Samsung’s position but also set new standards for the industry.

As we look ahead, I predict that this move could pave the way for enhanced AI capabilities and personalised experiences, potentially revolutionising how users interact with their devices. However, the success of this approach will likely depend on user acceptance and the ongoing evolution of AI technologies. You can also share your views on this decision in the comment section below.

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