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On Tue, 8 Apr, 8:02 AM UTC
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Mobile AI isn't Netflix, so phone makers need to keep subscriptions out of it
Table of Contents Table of Contents What's going on with Essential Space? Why would it need a subscription? It's not only Nothing's problem Compelling enough? When I reviewed the Nothing Phone 3a Pro I loved the phone and was also taken by the Essential Space, the brand's subtle and useful move into mobile AI. However, as the Nothing Phone 3a Pro finds its way into more hands, some hardcore users are hitting a limit in Essential Space where they can no longer use the AI feature on the phone. This frustrating situation is causing alarm because any kind of AI feature limit is often followed by a subscription option to remove it. If Nothing does start to charge heavy users for the Essential Space, will anyone be prepared to pay? It's a question every smartphone brand should be asking about mobile AI, and the answer may not be the one they want to hear. Recommended Videos What's going on with Essential Space? Nothing's Essential Space is a cool feature. It's like an AI-assisted note pad, where it stores, categorizes, and organizes screenshots taken on the phone. In the future you'll be able to add photos to its library, search by voice, and more to aid your memory and keep all those handy notes in one, easily searched place. It's a bit like Samsung's Now Brief in terms of life organization, but without the deep integration with your calendar. It's activated using a dedicated button on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, showing Nothing's commitment to it as a feature. However, at least one user posting to Reddit was surprised to come across a "monthly processing limit reached" warning when using Essential Space, and being unable to continue using it. The responses to the post are all negative, and none seem to suggest the feature is worth paying for, should such a system be put in place. Digital Trends has contacted Nothing for comment on the situation and we will update this story when we hear back. Regardless of the response, the processing limit warning for Essential Space has reminded us some AI features included with our phones today are going to require a subscription in the future, and how at the moment, they don't offer enough value to enough people to justify one. Why would it need a subscription? Why should Nothing and other brands want people to pay at all? AI features often use the cloud to process data, and Nothing states it does send data to the cloud where it's processed and then deleted when it has been analyzed. Outside of mentioning several future Essential Space features, including a meeting transcription feature which recognizes different speakers, it does not mention any personal data limits, or the potential for subscription charges in the future on its website. AI services can require a massive amount of data to operate, and you can eat through it quite quickly too. For this reason it's common and accepted for major AI services to charge heavy users a subscription fee to make full use of the AI's capabilities. OpenAI's ChatGPT can cost up to $200 per month, while Google's Gemini Advanced and Microsoft's Copilot Pro cost $20 per month for example. Even as a light AI user, I can see the value in paying for extensive, varied AI services like Gemini Advanced if you regularly use them. However, much as I liked Nothing's Essential Space, I'd have to take a lot of screenshots and be very forgetful to make it worth paying for every month. Plus, when you're faced with a subscription (another one), you instantly assess whether you really need it, and this is where mobile AI begins to fall apart. The niche services, usually locked to a device or user, are nice-to-haves, not must-haves. It's not only Nothing's problem Nothing isn't the only one facing this problem. Samsung has already said some of its Galaxy AI suite of features will require payment to use in the future, and by releasing them all for free now, it hopes we'll have already become reliant on them by the time the day comes. It's unlikely all Galaxy AI features will be behind a paywall, and you won't be forced to pay, but will you want to pay at all? Some of the features are good, but good enough to pay for? No, not really. Now Brief, Samsung's organizational tool, promises a lot but only delivers if you're utterly reliant on your phone's calendar, and busy enough to require regular reminders and suggestions on how to cram more into your day. If you're not, it doesn't do much. How often have you used the translation features on your Samsung, Asus, or Oppo phone? What about AI photo editing or image generation? Nothing's Essential Space is a cool feature which doesn't push the AI element too hard, making it friendly and fun. But it'll stop being fun if it gets a cost attached to it. Apple Intelligence is currently free, but an iCloud-style subscription fee is possible in the future, according to reports. Compelling enough? Are any mobile AI features compelling and useful enough for me to pay for them each month? No, not yet, and if they were, when a subscription looms, I'd take a good look at all the other options available before considering paying. It's where Gemini Advanced, ChatGPT, apps providing similar features, and other AI-powered tools will start to make a lot more sense. They're potentially more focused, more versatile, often usable on the desktop and mobile, rarely tied to a single device or manufacturer, and will probably be available to the whole family too. At the moment, mobile AI is a collection of features on a single phone looking for subscribers, rather than brilliant features people will be happy to pay for, and it's a distinction I don't think manufacturers understand. It's going to cause a problem as the almost inevitable subscriptions start to arrive, and Nothing's Essential Space is evidence of the reaction they're likely to get.
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Nothing Phone 3a's Essential Space May Have a Monthly Processing Limit
A teardown reportedly reveals plans for AI credits and free trials Nothing Phone 3a series launched last month and one of its standout features was Essential Space. Activated via the new dedicated Essential Key, it acts as a one-stop solution to gather all sorts of data such as screenshots, photos, and voice notes, and recall them using AI. While this feature was a nifty addition which was appreciated by users, a social media post suggests that some of them are running into monthly processing limits for the feature. User @AlphaDaemon1999 expressed their frustration over the discovery of the monthly processing limit on a post on Reddit. The post says that the user used the feature as intended; to save content ideas, set reminders, and track their daily expenses, before they hit the limit. The user emphasised that they read through all of the terms and conditions but did not find a reference to the maximum processing cap anywhere. Other users also expressed their disappointment over this development, especially since it is a hardware inclusion and one of the most advertised features of the Nothing Phone 3a series. One user commented, "Never expected this. That's the USP of the product. When they have a cap on the USP, then there's no point in advertising as a unique feature." The monthly processing limit on the Essential Space suggests that the company could introduce a paid subscription for offering unlimited usage. However, this is not the first time that this has been hinted towards. Following a teardown of the latest version of the Essential Space app, Android Authority discovered multiple strings that referenced "free trial" and "AI credits". The former suggests that users may be able to try out certain Essential Space features before a subscription fee is required, while the latter indicates that they would be able to spend money on credits to access certain AI features. One of the strings read "start 1 year free trial", which suggests that the British OEM could offer a one year free subscription to the AI space before charging users for it.
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Nothing's AI-powered Essential Space feature on the Phone 3a Pro has reached processing limits for some users, raising questions about potential subscription models for mobile AI features.
Users of Nothing's Phone 3a Pro have encountered an unexpected hurdle with the device's AI-powered Essential Space feature. Some users are reporting that they've reached a "monthly processing limit," preventing further use of the feature 1. This development has sparked concerns about potential subscription models for mobile AI features.
Essential Space, activated by a dedicated button on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, functions as an AI-assisted notepad. It stores, categorizes, and organizes screenshots, with plans to expand to photos and voice search capabilities 1. The feature aims to aid memory and streamline note organization, similar to Samsung's Now Brief but without deep calendar integration.
The discovery of processing limits has led to negative reactions from users. Many express frustration, particularly since Essential Space is a heavily advertised feature and integral to the phone's unique selling proposition 2. The situation has raised questions about the potential introduction of subscription models for mobile AI features.
While AI services often require substantial data processing, justifying subscription models for extensive use, the value proposition for device-specific AI features remains questionable. Major AI services like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini Advanced charge for heavy usage, but these offer broader applications across multiple devices 1.
Nothing isn't alone in facing this challenge. Samsung has indicated that some of its Galaxy AI features may require payment in the future. Apple is also rumored to be considering subscription models for its AI features 1. This trend raises questions about the perceived value of device-specific AI features and users' willingness to pay for them.
A teardown of the Essential Space app revealed strings referencing "free trial" and "AI credits," suggesting that Nothing may be considering a subscription model. One string mentioned a "1 year free trial," indicating a possible strategy to familiarize users with the feature before implementing charges 2.
As smartphone manufacturers increasingly integrate AI features into their devices, they face the challenge of balancing costs with user expectations. The reaction to Nothing's Essential Space limitations highlights the need for clear communication about feature limitations and potential future costs. It also underscores the importance of delivering compelling, indispensable AI features that users would be willing to pay for in an increasingly crowded subscription landscape.
Reference
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Nothing, the UK-based smartphone maker, might introduce a subscription model for its AI-powered Essential Space feature on the Phone 3a series, potentially charging users $120 annually for advanced AI functionalities.
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Apple's foray into AI with Apple Intelligence has been met with disappointment, as users find the features limited, buggy, and less capable compared to competitors like Google's AI offerings.
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Nothing, known for mid-range Android phones, is set to launch its first AI-powered flagship, the Nothing Phone 3, in Q1 2025. The device promises breakthrough innovations in user interface and AI capabilities.
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