Google could make the search engine's AI-enhanced features paid for

According to the Financial Times, Google is considering charging users for using its artificial intelligence services.

Although the details are not yet defined, the situation should be something like this: a series of advanced functions they could become paid, while the others would remain accessible for free.
The business model could include access to “non-essential services” through a paywall that would limit the use of premium features, also directly affecting Apple users.
FT suggests that these services could be included in your subscription One AI Premium from Google, which has already introduced features like Gemini to Gmail and Docs.

The reasons behind the gesture

The idea of ​​introducing a tax on the use of artificial intelligence services on Apple devices could arise from the goal of recover the huge investment which Google perpetuates in order to keep its search engine as the default option on Safari, the main browser on iPhone and iPad.

Although the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has changed the dynamics affecting Apple's browsers, this mainly applies to Europe; the business relationship between the two companies remains intact in other parts of the world.
Requesting a payment from users for the use of artificial intelligence services, Google could recover part of the funds annually transferred to Cupertino.

As for the general discussion, if the search engine became paid, it would be a significant change for Google's core business, which until now has always been free.
The traditional search will in any case remain free thanks to the display of advertisementswhich users will continue to see even if they subscribe.

Is intelligence paid for?

In mid-March, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman revealed that Google was negotiating with Apple to bring Gemini artificial intelligence to more than 2 billion Apple devices, highlighting once again how far behind the company is on this technological front .

Apple has been rumored to be testing internally for over a year Apple GPTa chatbot based on a proprietary language model called Ajax, with the goal of integrating functionality directly into iOS 18, rather than relying on the cloud.

However, sources indicate that Apple's technology may still be inferior to that of Google and other competitors, suggesting the possibility of a partnership.
It is not excluded that, in the absence of an agreement with Google, Apple may consider other suppliers, such as OpenAI.

Considering Google's heavy investments in AI and the wide range of features already available, integrating AI-powered features into search would be an interesting evolution.
Engineers are currently developing the premium features, while management has yet to make a final decision on the implementation of the plan.
If it were integrated into One AI Premium, it would become part of themonthly subscription of 21.99 euros.

While there is no firm launch date for these features yet, the report suggests that we could get a preview of these innovations as early as the next I/O 2024 event, expected next month.