Over the last year and a half, phone makers like Google, Apple and Samsung have found plenty of ways to work artificial intelligence into their mobile offerings. Google has woven its Gemini AI tool into everything from Messages to Photos. Apple debuted its suite of Apple Intelligence features that includes a smarter Siri and ChatGPT integration. And Samsung announced Galaxy AI, its family of functions for simplifying tasks like image editing and message translation.
But beyond all the flashy announcements and promises of how AI can elevate your mobile experience, there’s fine print: you’ll someday have to pay for these features if you want to keep using them.
On its website, Samsung says its Galaxy AI features “will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.” Apple plans to eventually charge for some of its AI-powered iPhone features, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. And to leverage Gemini’s full power across Google’s apps, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee (though Pixel owners get access to photo AI features like Magic Editor for free).
This all comes at a time when subscription fatigue is reaching a fever pitch. A CNET study from April found that US adults spend an average of $91 on subscription services each month. Two-thirds of respondents said at least one of their subscriptions had jumped in price within the last year. That burnout has led many to pull the plug on various services; in fact, about a quarter of US subscribers have canceled three or more streaming services over the last two years, The New York Times reports.
Piling on yet another monthly fee is less than enticing for many, myself included. Between the multiple subscriptions I already pay across streaming, cloud storage and delivery services, the last thing I’m inclined to do is sign up for one more recurring cost – especially for flashy AI features I’m not yet convinced are necessary.
See also: Sorry, iPhone Users: The Galaxy Ring Won’t Work for You. Why That’s a Mistake
For instance, tools like Sketch to Image on the latest Galaxy S phones are impressive, but how often will I really want to turn a drawing into an image? Using Galaxy AI, Gemini or Apple Intelligence to help compose a message may be helpful for some, but I’ve always done just fine drafting texts on my own – it seems more genuine that way. And as much as I’d love for smart assistants like Siri to get more advanced, I’m OK with an inferior experience if it means I won’t have to pay to ask about the weather.
Tech companies now spend a large chunk of their events touting the many new AI compatibilities powering their devices and features. But each keynote leaves me feeling more jaded about the promises of the emerging tech. Do I really need an AI assist when drafting an email or making a grocery list on my phone?
And while the focus of Apple’s latest Worldwide Developers Conference was the arrival of Apple Intelligence, I don’t feel compelled to upgrade my iPhone 14 Pro to a newer device just to access AI features. As long as I can take quality images and videos, text my friends and scroll through my favorite social media, I’m content. I’m also certainly not at a point where I’m willing to pay to get an AI boost on my iPhone or MacBook; to me, they function just fine without all that.
With subscription fatigue in full swing, it’s at least fortunate that Samsung chose not to charge a monthly fee with its new Galaxy Ring health wearable (though you’ll pay a pretty penny up front with that $400 starting price). But I hope more companies heed our collective exhaustion, especially amid rising prices, including for gadgets. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, for instance, got a $100 price hike over last year’s models, as did the iPhone 15 Pro Max, since Apple did away with the lower-priced 128GB storage option. So much is already at the high end of people’s price points. Charging an additional monthly fee, on top of the many other costs associated with owning a smartphone, just adds fuel to the fire.
Until there’s a more practical and warranted use for AI functions on our handsets, I’m good with bypassing the latest futuristic features, along with the accompanying subscription costs. I’d rather keep that money in my pocket – or, more likely, use it to pay for yet another subscription fee that’s sure to arise.
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