Microsoft starts charging Notepad and Paint users

According to a report from PC World , AI features like the image generator in Paint and the text rewrite tool in Notepad will only be available to those with a paid Microsoft 365 account. However, non-AI features will continue to function normally. A company representative said they had no further comment on the decision.

Users now need a Microsoft 365 subscription to create AI-powered images on Paint

With its multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI, Microsoft has integrated AI capabilities into a variety of apps and services, including its Xbox gaming division and the Copilot app for Windows. The addition has led to a price increase for its Microsoft 365 service, which now costs about $10 per month or $99 per year.

Many of Microsoft's AI features are ineffective

Not all of Microsoft's AI efforts have been well received by users, however. Copilot's Recall feature, designed to improve searches by recording user activity, has been delayed due to privacy and security concerns, stemming from reports that the feature could collect sensitive information like credit card numbers and social security numbers.

Microsoft's market capitalization exceeds $3,000 billion

For Notepad and Paint, requiring payment for AI features will not affect the ability of Windows users without a 365 subscription to access and use other functions. Microsoft provided more details about the new AI features on its blog in November.

According to an industry expert, this move by Microsoft is similar to the freemium strategy to create demand for new features. However, the expert said that providing AI features for free can become a financial burden for companies due to the high cost of using language models, so more technology companies may look to price AI-based services with more flexible pricing models.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/microsoft-bat-dau-thu-phi-nguoi-dung-notepad-va-paint-185250318101541484.htm