Apple Introduces Paid Subscription for Advanced AI Features in iOS 18

Apple has announced a new subscription service named "Apple Intelligence," offering enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities with the launch of iOS 18. iPhone users will initially receive the most basic AI tools at no cost, but more sophisticated features will require a separate paid subscription.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the Apple Intelligence package, unveiled at WWDC 2024, integrates neural networks and AI capabilities based on algorithms from OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and other sources. Initially, these features will be available for free, but Apple plans to eventually introduce a paid subscription model similar to iCloud+, which will require a monthly fee. Details about the pricing of Apple Intelligence Plus, the release schedule, and the list of innovations will be disclosed later. It is most likely that the subscription will be introduced only in 2025.

With the release of iOS 18, iPhone and other Apple device users will gain access to the most basic AI tools. These tools are designed for analyzing and sorting messages, creating brief informational digests in Safari, Notes, and Mail, and generating images and Genmoji. However, the more advanced AI features will be available only through a paid subscription.

Bloomberg analysts have noted a slowdown in the pace of hardware innovations at Apple in recent years. The company has been focusing on gradual improvements in performance and the introduction of new features, such as OLED displays in the iPad Pro. As a result, consumers are less inclined to upgrade their devices frequently, which negatively affects the company's revenue. Now, Apple is betting on artificial intelligence as a key area for future business development. The company believes that AI technology can revitalize existing devices and stimulate revenue growth. In the coming years, Apple is expected to shift its focus from hardware to software, introducing subscriptions and providing access to new AI functions only on the latest iPhone models.

Apple unveiled iOS 18 during the Worldwide Developers Conference. The company officially announced the release of the new version of the operating system – iOS 18, which is tailored for the yet-to-be-released iPhone 16 series and other supported devices. Notably, Apple now allows users to arrange app icons and widgets in any order, including with spaces, and to change icon colors for better personalization.

It has also been revealed that new features in the upcoming versions of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will include the ability to format external storage devices. This has become relevant with the introduction of USB-C in the iPhone 15.

The final version of the updated system will be available this fall, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 series. By then, beta testers will have had the opportunity to experiment with the new options provided by the operating system.

It should be noted that iOS 18 bears a closer resemblance to Android in some respects.