Microsoft has increasingly incorporated AI features into Windows apps like Notepad and Paint, which are now mostly accessible only through a Microsoft 365 subscription. Users can still use basic functionalities for free, but advanced features like AI-driven text rewriting in Notepad and image generation in Paint require a monthly or annual subscription. This shift indicates a broader trend of moving the freemium model from mobile apps to desktop software, putting economic pressure on consumers while supporting ongoing AI development costs.
For Microsoft, passing the cost along to the consumer is the obvious way to address all those goals. That's why the company has essentially placed the AI skills for otherwise free Windows apps behind a subscription paywall.
In Notepad, you can request a rewrite of the text and even specify whether you want it shorter, longer, more formal, more casual, or more humorous.
The freemium model has been expanding beyond the mobile landscape into desktop software, as noted in the article, highlighting a trend towards charging for enhanced features.
You can use all of the non-AI features of Notepad and Paint for free, just as always, but AI features require a Microsoft 365 subscription.
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