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Apple is reportedly planning to charge users an additional fee for its upcoming advanced AI system, Apple Intelligence, with an estimated price of up to $20. This move is aimed at further boosting the company's profitable services business. The tech giant intends to roll out the AI system on some devices later this year, enhancing Siri's capabilities and introducing features like automatic email composition and image creation.

While the advanced features will be introduced gradually and may not initially cover regions such as China and Europe, Apple is considering a subscription model for premium applications. According to CNBC, Counterpoint Research's Neil Shah suggests that the high cost of AI technology investment is prompting Apple to pass on some of the costs to consumers. Apple may include the advanced features of Apple Intelligence in the existing Apple One subscription package, offering it to users at a monthly rate of $10 to $20.

The first iPhone AI version of Apple Intelligence was released on July 29th, available only in the iOS 18.1 developer beta, accessible to registered developers who have paid an annual fee of $99. The update is currently limited to devices with M-series and A17 Pro chips, such as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, with similar versions for iPad and Mac. The new software primarily focuses on text generation, Siri, and photo album modules, with more features, including ChatGPT integration, expected to launch next year. Apple's AI team emphasizes that these models are not chatbots but support a wide range of functions, including summarization, writing assistance, tool usage, and coding.