According to the latest reports, despite earlier news that Apple Inc. planned to charge users for its artificial intelligence service, Apple Intelligence, with a monthly subscription fee as high as $20 (approximately 143 RMB), analyst Gurman suggests in his recent report that Apple will not charge for this service for at least three years.
Gurman believes that Apple is currently lagging behind its competitors in the AI field and is in an active catch-up phase. Implementing a fee policy at this stage would be unwise. He points out that Apple's AI service needs further development and will take at least three more years to reach a level worth paying for.
Additionally, Gurman predicts that Apple may split the Apple Intelligence service into two parts in the future: the basic functions will remain free but with limited features; more advanced functions may be offered as a paid subscription in the future.
It is noteworthy that although the code for iOS 18.1 indicates that Apple will not introduce Apple Intelligence in the mainland China market for the time being, CEO Tim Cook revealed during the earnings call that the company is in communication with regulatory authorities to enable the service in Europe and China as soon as possible. The Chinese market is crucial for Apple, thus the company has strong motivation to push its AI service in the region.
It is reported that starting from the iPhone 16, Apple Intelligence will be a standard feature across all models. This indicates Apple's emphasis on AI technology and its determination to maintain competitiveness in the smartphone market. As AI technology continues to advance and expand its applications, Apple's strategy could have a profound impact on its global business.