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Samsung has confirmed its basic Galaxy AI features will remain free permanently. This shuts the door on a subscription or paywall being added to Galaxy AI, something that was a possibility under the old language.
AI has become one of the biggest selling points of Galaxy smartphones. The launch events for the last two generations of Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series flagships focused heavily on how these devices aim to make life easier through AI-driven features.
These upgrades were devoid of hardware improvements, raising concerns about Samsung potentially charging for those features. Earlier, the brand promised to keep Galaxy AI features “complimentary through 2025.” This statement led to confusion among users; Galaxy buyers remained skeptical about the future of the AI suite.
Samsung has finally clarified its plans regarding the key selling point of its phones. The Galaxy AI landing page has been updated with a footnote, stating: “Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free. Future releases may include enhanced features or new services that are offered on a paid basis. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.”
Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite was first launched with the Galaxy S24 lineup. It included a combination of on-device and cloud features powered by Samsung and Google. Some functions like Circle to Search, have since made their way to other Android phones. However, many features stayed a Samsung exclusive.
Under ‘Advanced Intelligence’ in Samsung’s Terms, the basic, free Galaxy AI features include communication tools like Live Translation, Interpreter, Chat Assist, and Transcript Assist. It also brings productivity-focused features like Note Assist, Writing Assist, Browsing Assist, Now Brief, and Photo Assist.
These features have been free for eligible devices since Galaxy AI debuted. However, Samsung has always left the door open to make them subscription-based in the future.
The tech giant is expected to push more advanced and convenient AI features in the coming years to make Galaxy phones smarter. Samsung also hinted at plans for charging in some advanced and potentially niche AI features.
The upcoming Galaxy S26 series is expected to focus heavily on proactive, on-device AI. “Galaxy AI basic features are those services listed under ‘Advanced Intelligence’ in the current Samsung Services Terms and Conditions,” the company further explained in the footnote.
Also Read: How to Turn Off Galaxy AI Features on Samsung Galaxy Phones
Samsung’s decision to potentially charge for future AI capabilities could signal a broader industry shift. After all, it’s common for smartphone brands to take notes from each other’s playbooks.
Some features powered by Google Gemini, such as Gemini Live, fall under the ‘AI features provided by third parties’ category. These services are not included in this guarantee and may have their own pricing.
Technology enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see how the ‘AI features’ category evolves by the end of this year – it will be worth watching!
