gizmodo.com- On July 30, during his final earnings call as Apple CEO, Tim Cook signaled that Siri users may soon have to pay, saying a price may come into play 'when people use it a lot.'
- Cook said Apple was absolutely thrilled with responses from Siri AI beta testers, and Apple is learning how much usage will cost it.
- Cook described Apple’s data center strategy as a hybrid model using its own data centers and paid cloud services, acknowledging that Apple has been spending money in this area.
- Cook said heavy Siri AI users could be moved to an iCloud Plan, with the cost balance uncertain: 'We’ll see what Siri AI does from the cost side of it. There’s also the ability when people use it a lot for them to move up on an iCloud Plan as well. What the balance of that is [is] a bit uncertain at the moment.'
- Siri AI is a richer experience that uses personal context from apps like Notes and Messages to answer questions based on schedules, preferences, and details about friends and family.
- The article describes Siri AI as leaps and bounds more sophisticated than previous Siri, but says that sophistication is an add-on rather than built into the device.
- The text notes that certain AI camera features would only be available to users with at least a $9.99-per-month iCloud+ subscription.
Tim Cook's departure as Apple CEO marks a pivotal moment for the company, especially regarding Siri AI. During his final earnings call, Cook revealed that a pricing model for Siri AI could be introduced based on user demand, stating, "A price may come into play 'when people use it a lot.'"12345910
Cook emphasized that Apple is “absolutely thrilled by the response” to Siri AI from users in beta testing, indicating a significant reliance on the assistant. He noted that the company is learning about the costs associated with this increased usage, which could lead to changes in iCloud plans for heavy users.8
He explained, “We’ll see what Siri AI does from the cost side of it.” This suggests that as Siri becomes more integrated with personal data—like notes and messages—its functionality will expand, but potentially at a cost.
Cook also hinted that certain AI features might only be accessible to users with a minimum $9.99-per-month iCloud+ subscription. This shift indicates a move towards monetizing advanced features, as Apple balances user experience with operational costs. As Siri evolves, users may need to adapt to new pricing structures to fully utilize its capabilities.12
“Cook described Apple's data center strategy as a "hybrid model" relying on its own data centers and paid cloud services, acknowledging Apple has been spending money on compute. Siri AI uses personal context from apps like Notes and Messages to answer questions informed by schedules, preferences, and friends and family.”
