Apple’s AI Video Summaries for HomeKit Secure Video cost $9.99 USD per month but cover only a single camera, meaning a household that wants AI‑generated summaries for two cameras must pay $29.99 USD per month and one that wants five cameras must pay $59.99 USD per month.
Pricing breakdown
Heise Online, citing Apple’s own pricing tables, shows three iCloud+ tiers that include the AI Video Summaries feature:
| iCloud+ Plan | Price (USD/month) | Cameras Covered for AI Summaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2 TB (base) | 9.99 | 1 |
| 6 TB | 29.99 | 2 |
| 12 TB | 59.99 | 5 |
| Source: Heise Online | ||
The base 2 TB plan is the most expensive HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV) subscription Apple has offered to date, yet it only includes one camera for the AI feature. Upgrading to the 6‑TB tier adds a second AI‑enabled camera for an additional $20 per month, while the 12‑TB tier adds three more cameras for a further $30 per month.
How the new pricing diverges from historic HKSV rates
Historically, HKSV pricing was tied to a simple camera count: €0.99 per month for one camera, €2.99 per month for five cameras, and €9.99 per month for unlimited cameras. The new AI Video Summaries break that model. As Heise Online notes, “Nutzer hatten erwartet, dass sich Apple dabei an der bekannten HKSV‑Abrechnung … orientiert … Doch dem ist nicht so.” The AI feature therefore represents a distinct revenue stream rather than an extension of the existing unlimited‑camera tier.
Most HomeKit Secure Video users run two or more cameras to monitor different rooms or entry points. Under the new structure, a two‑camera setup costs $29.99 USD per month – three times the price of the single‑camera base tier. A five‑camera household faces a $59.99 USD monthly bill, six times the base price. Apple does not offer any tier that provides “unlimited” AI Video Summaries, confirming the packet’s claim that the feature is effectively inaccessible for typical multi‑camera households.
Because the AI Video Summaries are blocked in the European Union at launch, EU consumers cannot test the feature at all, further limiting its immediate impact there.
Apple’s broader AI monetisation strategy
Apple’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission shows a company with $265.6 bn USD revenue in fiscal 2018 and $101.5 bn USD net income in the most recent quarter (ended 27 June 2026). The firm employs roughly 115,000 people and holds $383.3 bn USD in total assets. While the filing does not break out AI‑related revenue, the pricing of AI Video Summaries suggests Apple is positioning its AI services as a premium add‑on, consistent with the company’s recent trend of monetising new AI capabilities across its ecosystem.
Apple’s chief executive is not listed in the packet, and the research notes advise confirming that detail before publication. However, the company’s headquarters remain in Cupertino, California, and its ticker is AAPL on the Nasdaq.
What remains unknown
- Apple has not disclosed whether it will introduce a tier that allows unlimited AI Video Summaries in the future.
- The company has not provided a timeline for when the EU block will be lifted.
- Exact adoption rates for the feature are not yet available.
Until Apple clarifies these points, consumers with multiple HomeKit Secure Video cameras must decide whether the convenience of AI‑generated summaries justifies the $20‑$50 USD monthly premium over the standard HKSV service.