Samsung was the first smartphone vendor to make a big push into generative AI features on its mobile devices this year. The company partnered with Google and others to bring its Galaxy AI suite to the Galaxy S24, making AI features a major selling point for its new flagship. A few months later, Samsung began rolling out Galaxy AI features to its older devices. We expect the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 to have the same or even better Galaxy AI features as the Galaxy S24.
Galaxy AI will be free for buyers, but a footnote in January revealed that it will only be free until 2025. Samsung reinforced that same promise in another footnote, with a clear estimate: Galaxy AI will be free until the end of 2025. What happens after that? Will there be a Galaxy AI Plus subscription?
The footnote comes from Samsung's announcement earlier this week, which detailed the opening of seven Galaxy Experience Spaces around the world for users to discover new features in Galaxy AI.
A footnote makes it clear that not all features of Galaxy AI are available on all supported devices. Also, third-party AI features may be subject to different terms of use. One such third party is Google, whose Circle to Search feature debuted on the Galaxy S24 series. However, Samsung has said that its Galaxy AI will be free until the end of 2025.
Availability of Galaxy AI features may vary by device model. Galaxy AI features will be provided free of charge on supported Samsung Galaxy devices until the end of 2025. AI features provided by third parties may be subject to different terms.
As we get closer to the end of next year, Samsung is likely to extend the deadline. After all, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 may feature new Galaxy AI features. What's more, the Galaxy S25 series should also get some new AI tricks in early 2025. Add in Google's own AI efforts, and next year's Android flagships may have more powerful generative AI capabilities than previous models.
In January, Samsung said it should charge for Galaxy AI in the future, and a Galaxy AI Plus subscription makes sense to me, helping to cover some of the costs and ensuring Samsung continues to invest in strong security and privacy features.
After all, most of the Galaxy AI features don't run on the device – there's a lot of data exchange with servers, and I don't want to pay the AI to train it on my own data.
The threat of Apple Intelligence and Google AI
Meanwhile, the Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 18 performs most tasks locally on the device. Apple has also developed new technologies to protect the privacy of data that needs to be sent to the cloud for processing. ChatGPT integration also features a prompt asking users to allow their data to be processed on OpenAI servers, ensuring that their data remains private.
Given how Apple Intelligence works, he also said that Apple can't charge for the iPhone AI yet, especially since most of the AI features run on-device, but would be happy to pay for the future Siri AI, which will be a truly powerful assistant.
We'd also like to point out that almost all of the ChatGPT features available with a Plus subscription in January are now available for free, including access to the latest GPT-4o model.
Incidentally, Google is rumored to be releasing the Google AI suite of AI features with the Pixel 9. These will likely be limited to the Pixel 9 and Pixels in general for a while, putting pressure on Samsung. It is unclear if Google AI will be free forever with the Pixel 9. However, Google typically offers free software to its customers, and GPT-4o is available for free to ChatGPT users.
Google teased a new Gemini AI assistant at I/O 2024, proving it could match the capabilities of GPT-4o. Gemini AI would be a great addition to any Android smartphone, including Samsung flagships, but it could also be an exclusive part of the Google AI suite of AI apps that Google is developing for the Pixel 9.
Now, focusing on the Galaxy AI again, I have to say that Galaxy AI needs to be significantly upgraded before Samsung starts charging any kind of fee for the Plus subscription.
Sure, the Siri experience Apple demoed for iOS 18 won't be ready until next year, and will initially roll out as a beta version of the AI assistant, but as of this writing, Samsung doesn't have anything similar, nor can it match up to its Gemini AI assistant on its own.
Where is Bixby?
Unless an improved Bixby is released by late 2025, there will likely be no reason to start paying for the Galaxy AI Plus subscription. This is not to say that Samsung shouldn't pass on some of the costs of AI development and processing to users, but it does mean that Samsung has to step up its game in the AI race, given the state of its competitors.
We'll hopefully learn more about Galaxy AI when Samsung launches its new foldable smartphones next week, but whatever happens with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, you'll still get Galaxy AI for free for 18 months on supported devices.
