Apple revealed in macOS 27 beta 3 release notes that its new AI-powered Home app features require a 2TB iCloud+ subscription at $9.99 per month. The features, announced at WWDC, include intelligent notification summaries that consolidate multiple security alerts into single updates, and a HomeKit Secure Video upgrade from 1080p to 4K resolution.

The Apple Intelligence capabilities analyze camera footage to generate video descriptions, enable search across clips for specific events like package deliveries, and surface noteworthy moments automatically. Apple demonstrated the system tracking a UPS delivery and a friend's visit across multiple cameras.

Existing HomeKit Secure Video already requires paid iCloud tiers — 200GB for multiple cameras, 2TB for unlimited — but the AI mandate extends the 2TB requirement to users with fewer cameras. While some target users may already subscribe for camera capacity, the move locks AI features behind the highest tier regardless of camera count.

The requirement continues the industry trend of subscription-gating core features, undermining one of HomeKit Secure Video's original appeals: avoiding proprietary cloud fees from camera manufacturers. Apple's approach mirrors competitors like Ring and Arlo, but at a premium price point that may deter adoption among casual users.