Tim Cook: Paid Apple Intelligence "never in discussion"
Tim Cook has rejected speculation about subscription plans for Apple Intelligence. He sees AI as a fundamental technology – like multitouch.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch)
Apple reportedly has no plans to link Apple Intelligence to a subscription: charging for AI functions has "never been on the table", emphasized Apple CEO Tim Cook in an interview with Wired magazine. Apple sees this as a fundamental technology "similar to multitouch, which made the smartphone revolution and modern tablets possible". According to Cook, he himself uses Apple Intelligence for email summaries and prioritization. This is a "game changer" for him – after all, Apple is a "mail-based company" and he receives a lot of messages this way.
Cook rejects criticism of AI
The Apple boss sees AI as another tool that users can use – to improve or reformulate texts such as a cover letter, for example. In the Wired interview, Cook rejected the criticism that the recipient may be deceived by this: after all, it is still about the user's "thoughts and perspective" – Computers have always brought similar simplifications and productivity increases.
Videos by heise
Apple introduced the first AI functions with iOS 18.1 in the USA, with further elements soon to follow with 18.2. The AI package will not be launched in Europe until April 2025, when it is expected to be available in German. Unlike its major competitors, Apple Intelligence does not currently offer a subscription with additional functions. Instead, users can contact ChatGPT directly in iOS 18.2, including via Siri. The subscription option for OpenAI's chatbot is integrated directly into the operating system – and Apple presumably earns money from the subscriptions taken out via this option.
Speculation about a subscription for Apple Intelligence
Following the announcement of Apple Intelligence in the summer, speculation quickly arose about a planned subscription for additional functions. The services business is becoming increasingly important for Apple; it now generates more revenue for the company than Macs, iPads and wearables combined. The division is being expanded accordingly. At the same time, Apple's services sales are coming under fire from regulatory authorities: a possible ban on the Google search deal in the USA would mean a loss of revenue of around 20 billion US dollars per year for Apple.
(lbe)
