Updated January 21: The article was originally published on January 19.
Will Samsung move some Galaxy AI features behind a paywall in two years? The Galaxy S24 Ultra product page shows this.
Samsung's announcement about the Galaxy AI feature is at the bottom of the Galaxy S24 Ultra page on its US website: "Galaxy AI features will be available for free on supported Samsung Galaxy devices until the end of 2025. Conditions may apply different for AI features provided by third parties”.
Software subscription services are popular: Adobe has several subscriptions in its portfolio, and consumers will find that they can purchase additional space in cloud services to increase storage. If Galaxy AI Services becomes a paid feature, how many consumers will be willing to pay to play? Samsung will have to balance maximizing revenue and maximizing the number of users if the company decides to follow this path.
Samsung Galaxy AI works both on-device and in the cloud, and it's unclear if there will be any differences between the two services. Some Galaxy AI features require an internet connection and a Samsung account. As the use of AI tools becomes more widespread, providing AI-intensive services in the cloud can be costly.
Can Samsung Galaxy AI make it so attractive that consumers feel a strong desire to buy the service?
Update: Sunday, January 21: While the Galaxy AI will make an impressive debut and be a key part of the Galaxy S24 story, the new phone will have little exclusivity. The South Korean company has confirmed plans to reduce Galaxy AI on older phones.
Speaking to Android Authority, a spokesperson said: “Many of the Galaxy AI features introduced in the Galaxy S24 will also be compatible with previous models, including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 , and the Galaxy Tab. . S9 series. 2024 H 1. Stay tuned for more details."
Galaxy AI is considered a standalone product available across the Galaxy line, reducing the impact of the Galaxy S24 family. This might be Samsung's first AI phone, but the appeal of upgrading from an older phone is starting to fade... depending on the AI features and how much it costs.
Artificial intelligence is a broad term for software; It's hard to know what's going to work, what's going to be hot, and what's going to flop in the next six months, let alone the next two years. Samsung may not yet have the final say on Galaxy AI's role as part of its 2026 plans, which means qualifying the potential drop in service, as seen here, is important.
Unfortunately, this leaves a question mark over the long-term plans for the Galaxy S24 family and the Galaxy AI software.
Samsung has been contacted for comment; This article will be updated with any responses.
