Samsung Just Answered Everyone's Biggest Question About Its Ai Strategy

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

Samsung was speedy to hop connected nan generative AI wave, launching a robust group of AI devices nether nan title Galaxy AI pinch nan motorboat of its S24 lineup successful 2024. Upon launch, nan suite of devices was free, but location was a catch. The institution said nan features would only stay free until nan extremity of 2025. 

Also: Everything announced astatine Samsung Unpacked: Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, Watch 8 Series, more

However, arsenic nan presumed extremity day is approaching, Samsung seems to person had a alteration of heart, which is bully news for Samsung instrumentality owners. 

Free Galaxy AI is present to stay

At its Samsung Unpacked July 2025 event, nan institution eased nan public's concerns, reassuring users that moreover arsenic nan suite of AI features continues to turn pinch nan caller One UI 8 features and devices, users will beryllium capable to proceed to entree Galaxy AI for free. 

"While circumstantial plans for premium AI services will beryllium wished successful adjacent collaboration pinch our partners, we will proceed offering basal Galaxy AI features free of complaint to guarantee users tin bask their devices seamlessly," said Blake Gaiser, caput of smartphone merchandise guidance for Samsung Electronics America. "As always, we will proceed to show manufacture trends and personification feedback intimately to guarantee we present nan champion imaginable acquisition to Galaxy users." 

This is particularly important because Samsung has continuously added to its AI suite of tools, making it coming successful immoderate capacity crossed astir each usability of its phones. Samsung has integrated AI into sending texts, editing videos and photos, making telephone calls, and more. As nan AI features became much baked into nan devices, fears arose astir what nan personification acquisition would beryllium for illustration if Samsung decided to complaint for nan features, which would time off group pinch virtually nary prime but to salary to person nan intended acquisition of nan smartphone. 

Also: Samsung is giving existing Galaxy telephone users a $240 gift for free - here's really to judge it

Another cardinal facet is that AI features are often launched arsenic portion of package updates. While immoderate of those AI features require nan newest hardware, immoderate are cloud-based, and users pinch older models tin return advantage. In a strategy wherever users would person to salary for Galaxy AI features, moreover users who didn't want to splurge connected nan latest devices would beryllium forced to ammunition retired rate to acquisition immoderate of nan newest features. 

Samsung has 1 of nan astir fleshed-out suites of AI devices connected nan market, and its determination not to complaint users for those AI devices is apt to group a precedent that different companies will follow. Ultimately, successful nan AI space, arsenic seen pinch nan emergence of premium AI plans, erstwhile 1 institution realizes it tin complaint for a service, others quickly follow. 

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