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Innovation

How much for that AI?

If you use AI often, prepare for a day when free models start charging.

02 February 2026

'Tis the season of renewals, where I study my annual subscriptions and decide what's worth keeping. Some are obvious renewals, while others get retired because I don’t get enough value. In some cases, I switch services to something more suited or cheaper since subscription costs rise steadily every year.

Do I really need a service? Is the free version enough? Is it time to expand into the paid version's extra features? Normally, it's a straightforward proposition. But in 2026, things will be tougher because of AI.

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