Even if they don’t (or if it’s partially networked as some recent rumors suggest), it’ll be rolled into one or both of two predictable costs (to the consumer):
1. The device sale itself, either raising the ASP or offsetting some other cost (to Apple) savings
2. Recurring payments for iCloud (or any rebranding it might undergo along with the feature)
Apple’s pricing model, if not totally predictable, is exceedingly formulaic. If they deviate from these into some sort of nickel and diming on “AI” features alone, that would almost certainly be a clear sign that they’re betting against it as a long term selling point.
1. The device sale itself, either raising the ASP or offsetting some other cost (to Apple) savings
2. Recurring payments for iCloud (or any rebranding it might undergo along with the feature)
Apple’s pricing model, if not totally predictable, is exceedingly formulaic. If they deviate from these into some sort of nickel and diming on “AI” features alone, that would almost certainly be a clear sign that they’re betting against it as a long term selling point.