Tim Cook: Paid Apple intelligence “never in discussion”

Apple apparently has no plans to tie Apple Intelligence to subscriptions: charging money for AI tasks was “never under discussion”, Apple boss Tim Cook stressed in an interview with Wired magazine. Apple sees it as “a fundamental technology similar to multitouch, which made the smartphone revolution and modern tablets possible.” Cook says he himself uses Apple Intelligence for email summarization and prioritization. This is a “game changer” for him – after all, Apple is an “email-based company” and he receives a lot of messages this way.

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Cook rejects AI criticism

The Apple boss sees AI as another tool that users can use – for example to improve or rewrite text such as cover letters. The criticism that the recipient may be deceived as a result Cook dismissed in Wired interview: After all, it still depends on the user’s “thoughts and perspective” – ​​computers always bring the same relief and increase in productivity.

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Apple introduced the first AI functions in the United States with iOS 18.1, and further elements will soon arrive with 18.2. The AI ​​package will not launch in Europe until April 2025, possibly in German after that. Unlike its major competitors, Apple Intelligence currently does not have any subscriptions with additional functions. Instead, users can address ChatGPT directly in iOS 18.2, which also includes Siri. The subscription option for OpenAI’s chatbots is integrated directly into the operating system – and Apple presumably makes money from subscriptions taken through it.

Speculation about Apple Intelligence membership

Following the Apple Intelligence announcement in the summer, speculation quickly arose about the planned subscription for additional functions. The services business is becoming increasingly important for Apple, it now provides the company with more sales than Macs, iPads and wearable devices combined. The department is being expanded accordingly. At the same time, Apple’s sales of services are facing criticism from regulatory authorities: a possible ban on the Google search deal in the United States would mean a loss of revenue for Apple of about $20 billion per year.

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