As far i see, during Installation of PL9, and also during PL 8.8 its download AI model’s during install (approx 500MB in size for each?, like DP3, DP3 for X-Trans, etc.).
May (just may) its means, AI modell upgrade / fine tune goes independently from PL version? Its can be nice, to iron out AI issues, without any install of main application.
Like once pop up:
New AI Masking model available - 478MB - Tree vs Sky detection works better in 'Select Sky) mode.
That is encouraging if, like they do with the Lens Correction Modules adding new lenses or improve the module profiles, that they will/can fine tune the subject AI functionality Which is logical as afteral AI training is likely not static ???
and what happens with your perpetual license few years later ? do you think you still will be able to download those necessary parts even with the company still in business and activation servers working ?
I don’t see why not, if the AI modeling is offloaded from the app. It’s my recollection that already-installed camera/lens correction modules are updated in the background without having to wait for a new minor or major release of the software. New minor and major releases include additional camera/lens support. AI models could in principle be handled by DxO in the same way.
All of this is implied (but not explicitly spelled out) in the End-User License Agreement and here:
Hope, but i think it not a big challenge to keep up activation an AI model downloads.
Model upgrades may also results mask re-calculate (or some similar). But yes, i think its can be run just fine. Its may very simple regarding activation and download/versioning side (IT , storage, logic part).
To bake AI files in version final installer (like in the PL8 line 8.8 the “last”) is also can be easy.
I have a Photo editor (ExposureX - i love it very much) what not really update for years, but activation still works as its expected. At least i see example for this things can be runs for long times.
However, regarding business point of view may limited in version. Like 9.0 limited to download only only until Ai Model 9.999, and PL 10.0 start with AI model 10.0.
Anyhow, i think the AI part issues “iron out” especially in early times can be far better with AI model downloads. To get small improvements easy, and not need to install: 9.0.1, 9.0.2, 9.0.3, 9.0.4 and so on.
This morning I was (pleasantly) surprised to be offered an update to PL7 (v7.16.0). That update behaved as described in the quote above, i.e. the AI models were explicitly shown as being downloaded during the installation.
That does seem to suggest these components of PL could now be updated separately from updates to the main application.
lens modules you can download once and safely store them for your version ( at least before v9 ) … not sure you can do the same with AI models … blessed are believers in corporate goodwill
if I buy something “perpetual” ( or at least pretending to be that , given the online activation long time in place that “perpetual” is debatable already ) I want something that I can use w/o hoping that I can download that later from vendor site when needed … the question is not about install or not install - the question is whether all components are obtainable now to be saved if I need to reinstall later from my own storage … I can download Fuji lens modules and store them w/o actually using them, but at least I have them
Which is logical as afteral AI training is likely not static ???