Apple is charging unexpectedly steep subscription prices for new AI capabilities in its smart home ecosystem. Users who want to take advantage of automated text summaries for surveillance footage with iOS 27 will need to subscribe to significantly higher-tier iCloud+ plans than previously required.
Steep Surcharges for AI Video Analysis
Until now, the camera service HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV) was integrated into the company’s cloud tiers at relatively low cost: the service records one camera for 99 cents per month, five cameras for 2.99 euros, and an unlimited number in the 9.99-euro tier. With the introduction of so-called AI Video Summaries, this billing model is changing fundamentally. Powered by Apple Intelligence, the feature analyzes motion events and pushes a short text summary of the scene to the device, sparing users from having to manually review every security clip.
As reported by Heise Online, citing user reports following the rollout of iOS 27 in the United States, strict limits apply to the AI summaries:
- 2 TB Plan ($9.99 per month): Includes AI analysis for only a single camera, although users can still store video from an unlimited number of cameras without AI.
- 6 TB Plan ($29.99 per month): Enables AI summaries for up to two cameras.
- 12 TB Plan ($59.99 per month): Covers up to five cameras with AI processing.
Apple currently does not offer an option to equip an unlimited number of cameras with smart video analysis.
Background and Availability in the European Union
The pricing structure underscores the high operational costs associated with AI inference in data centers—the continuous computation and processing of data models against incoming video streams. Many tech companies have subsidized these server costs to date. Apple is now opting for an approach more aligned with pricing from specialized AI subscriptions like those of OpenAI or Anthropic, rather than bundling the compute capacity into its base tiers.
Consumers in the European Union are not directly affected by the steep prices for the time being. Due to regulatory concerns, the feature—alongside other elements of Apple Intelligence—remains initially blocked in the region. Once the service is cleared for release in Europe, however, comparable euro pricing is likely to follow.
What Users Should Keep in Mind
Anyone currently operating cameras via HomeKit Secure Video should refrain from hastily upgrading existing iCloud subscriptions. Standard recording and video playback will continue unaffected under existing plans. For users with multiple indoor or outdoor cameras, however, the AI feature could quickly turn into a costly endeavor, as operating more than two cameras already requires booking the largest storage tier. Ahead of any future activation, households should carefully weigh whether automated text recognition truly justifies the substantial recurring surcharge in everyday use.
Sources: Heise – News
