Free, with limits
The new Siri AI will not be paid by default, but it will not be unlimited either. As reported by wi-fiplanet, Apple will offer a free daily usage allowance; those who want more can do so through iCloud+, the subscription service Apple already uses for backups, storage, and other premium features.
The mechanism mirrors what OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic already offer: a baseline accessible to everyone, a higher tier for more demanding users. For Apple, folding AI consumption into iCloud+ also has a lock-in advantage: heavy Siri users will be incentivised to maintain or upgrade their plan.
How generous is the limit?
The critical detail — how large the free daily allowance actually is — was not specified during the keynote. wi-fiplanet noted that everything depends on how generous or restrictive that threshold proves in everyday use. Apple will likely provide further details in the coming weeks as the first betas reach developers' hands.