topic Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it) in Licensing

Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Martin Jan Rosa — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:44:59 GMT

I am an Archicad user with a perpetual license and an SSA contract with a local vendor, and I have access to all updates. However, when I run AI Visualizer in Archicad 28 I get a message that I need a valid Archicad license to use it.

I tracked down the information that AI Visualizer is only for Collaborate and Edu license holders. So am I to understand that if I have a license that I previously believed provided me with full use of Archicad with all its features (and I consider the AI Visualizer, which is now part of its standard installation, to be such a feature), that I can now expect to be gradually cut back on various features, only to be forced to switch to another licensing method?

Operating system used: Mac Apple Silicon

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Jp1138 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:16:07 GMT

You are right. More features will become subscription exclusives as we move along...

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Martin Jan Rosa — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:38:11 GMT

Well, it's to be expected. As a long-time loyal customer & enthusiastic user, I would have preferred to receive an offer and the opportunity for a cost-effective transition to a subscription from the local GS partner rather than an unexpected error message...

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Jp1138 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:46:32 GMT

Yes, it seems local partners aren´t giving much information about what is coming 😥 At least I don´t remember getting much from ours.

I seems GS supposes everyone reads the forums all the time, when I asume it´s the other way around: many people are just starting to discover things that have been discussed here since a few months or even years.

For example, the transition you are requesting is linked here in the forums, and has been talked about at nauseam - I am not critizing you, just showing how the communication from GS is being less than stellar in this matter.

And the moment subscriptions enter in full is going to be very traumatic if this trend continues...

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Martin Jan Rosa — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 18:24:36 GMT

I've been aware of the transition to subscription for a few years now. It's been discussed here as well, but even our local distributor has been communicating about it rather vaguely so far. Personally, I'm quite in favor of the subscription model (unlike most of my colleagues). The uncertainty is only about the form of transition itself (managed by the local distributor or directly by GS?). I also found out about fairly favorable conditions, but nowhere is it clearly and concisely stated how to quickly and easily make this transition...

Nevertheless, the limitation of the AI Visualizer surprised me (and also other members of the local community of experienced users). I was thought that until the end of SSA/FWD at the end of 2026, we would still have a "full-fledged" ArchiCAD (let's set aside the BIMcloud etc.). And it's not even really about the AI Visualizer itself (not in my workflow anyway) - it's more about the principle, which I can briefly express as: if I can't run it with my license, then it shouldn't take up space on my computer as part of the standard installation...

I hope that tomorrow I'll receive an offer from my distributor or directly from GS, immediately pay for the subscription, finally get rid of the dongle with CodeMeter, and have peace of mind. 😉

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Jp1138 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:32:33 GMT

Some of us are not so happy paying 3x or 4x more times for the subscription than we pay for the SSA, and be at the will of GS changes of mind, but to each his own 😉

We agree that the local distribuitors aren´t giving enough info, probably because they themselves aren´t getting any from GS.

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Lee Hankins — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:22:31 GMT

It is extremely disappointing that the AI visualiser tool is not part of the SSA/FWD subscription. As you say, this was always understood to be the highest level of license.

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

DeMoyerArch — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 01:16:40 GMT

SO disappointing!

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Radek_K — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 08:54:56 GMT

So seriously.... All of us with perpetual license wont be able to use AI Visualizer? That's ridiculous! Not that that's essential in my workflow but i sense there will me more to come. One would think we have the right for FULL version and all its features. So the 'Building together' means what exactly? It's really becoming apparent that this software is not meant for small studios 😞

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Radek_K — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 11:40:02 GMT

Thank you for sharing the link. Completely missed that! Just reading it now one of the option says 3 years upfront payment. They are just having a laugh! Is it the new CEO completely out of touch so they're making these unrealistic billing plans or it's just now made purely for big corporations?

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Radek_K — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 16:25:54 GMT

So Martin, do you think there is still point to continue paying for the support pack?

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Martin Jan Rosa — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 08:45:33 GMT

The Support Pack (an SSA/FWD contract in our local market) is the only way to keep Archicad up to date at the moment. It's not something I'm particularly concerned about - the regular monthly payment doesn't burden me.

By the way, last week I tried to approach the local distributor and GS directly with an inquiry to transfer my license to Collaborate - still no response... So if I want to use AI Visualizer (which I don't, fortunately), I have no chance anyway, since I can't even get a subscription... ☹️

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Radek_K — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:41:23 GMT

Thank you for your reply. Totally understand. I’m sure your local distributor will reply, i guess even for them this is becoming very confusing situation. My point was since the support pack is a annual contract and my renewal is due soon i wondered whether i should let it run for another year or start thinking about a change. But yeah having Ai visualizer or not doesn’t bother at all at the moment.

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Martin Jan Rosa — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:35:56 GMT

I understand the questions about the contract extension. Also in the regard that the very good Collaborate subscription transition offer that GS is presenting here is limited to 2024. We are in October, and we are still not clear on what the transition will be in relation to our local contracts. I myself would like at least a chance to consider this offer, if not take it up directly (whether I actually choose it depends on a number of facts that are unclear to me at the moment, reading only the rather vague marketing statement here on the site). Either way, the switch for existing FWD/SSA clients will involve having to pay 1-3 years of subscription fees up front (while I now pay, probably like most, quarterly), which can put quite a bit of uncomfortable pressure on last-minute decisions.

Communication from both GS and the local partner is somewhat disappointing at the moment... They're offering something that doesn't look like it's for sale...

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Martin Jan Rosa — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 10:38:14 GMT

To be fair, I have to say that I just got a message from a local distributor that they will be communicating information regarding the move to Collaborate later this month. 😉

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

Radek_K — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:34:07 GMT

Great 👍 Could you please share the result?

Re: Valid license required to run AI visualizer? (I assume I have it)

DeMoyerArch — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 01:28:47 GMT

I rang my local supplier (Australia) and whilst they have been communicating the upcoming change from perpetual licenses to subscription model to a degree, it was very obvious the actual sales reps don’t know much about the details. It appears that the fee we used to pay for the ongoing SSA agreement will near triple when all the rebates / discounts fade out in several years time. I’m currently asking whether there is an option to somehow gain access to the ai visualizer…

AC28 SSA AI VISUALIZER

Michal Borowski — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:24:25 GMT

Please can someone explain to me why as a SSA member I can't use the AI visualizer add-on?

How is paying for SSA membership different from paying for Collaborate, since I'm paying for the program anyway? Why do I not have access to a fully functional program because of this?

Moreover, the student version has such access. In that case, am I to understand that I use the SSA version to perform the project, and for visualization I can use the student version?

Doesn't that seem absurd?

Re: AC28 SSA AI VISUALIZER

Jp1138 — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:47:05 GMT

It´s been talked about here: https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Licensing/Valid-license-required-to-run-AI-visualizer-I-assume-I-have-it/m-p/634040#M4365

Graphisoft wants you to forget about your perpetual license and get a subscription, which price they can up anytime they want without you being able to do anything about it 😛

Re: AC28 SSA AI VISUALIZER

thesleepofreason — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:02:32 GMT

GS is reneging on their commitment to let the user choose to have (and pay for) perpetual access to their content at known terms. As a way to lure any holdouts to relinquish this right to access they now are trying to make subscription access seem as a good deal by exclusive access and conditional pricing.