Next-Gen AI Failure Detection Is Here: General Release

Back in 2020, we launched The Spaghetti Detective — the first AI-powered failure detection for 3D printing. Since then, our AI has watched over 80 million hours of printing and caught more than 800,000 real failures across the Obico community.

A few months ago, we invited beta testers to try a completely rebuilt detection engine. Hundreds of you signed up, ran prints, and gave us invaluable feedback. The verdict was clear: the new model is a significant leap forward.

Starting May 1, 2026, the next-gen AI model is available to all AI Premium subscribers — yes, we're also renaming the Pro plan to AI Premium.

What's Different About the Next-Gen Model

This isn't an incremental update. We rebuilt the detection engine from the ground up, leveraging recent breakthroughs in the broader AI field. Here's what the numbers show:

• 63% fewer missed failures. The new model catches problems the old one would have let slide — including micro-failures like tiny residues and "ears" that only become catastrophic later in the print.
• 56% fewer false alerts. If you've ever had the AI pause a perfectly good print because of a shadow or a reflection, you'll appreciate this one. The new model is dramatically better at distinguishing real failures from visual noise.
• Low-light detection. The new model can detect failures in lighting conditions where the old one — and often the human eye — would struggle.
• Earlier catches. When a failure is happening, the new model flags it sooner, giving you more time to intervene before damage is done.

For beta testers who provided feedback: thank you. Your input directly shaped the model we're shipping today. Watch the side-by-side comparison →

A New Name to Match the New AI

The Pro plan is now called AI Premium.

We picked the new name to reflect what this plan actually is in 2026: premium AI failure detection, powered by a model that's nearly two-thirds better at catching real failures. Same plan, same perks — a name that matches what the plan really is now. If you're already a Pro subscriber, your account is automatically renamed to AI Premium; nothing for you to do.

New Pricing

The next-gen model is significantly more expensive to run than the old one — more compute per frame, more sophisticated inference, higher infrastructure costs. Better AI means a better product, and the pricing is updating to reflect both.

New AI Premium plan pricing (effective May 1, 2026):

	Annual	Monthly
New subscribers	$6.99/mo	$8.99/mo
Existing subscribers (loyalty price)	$5.49/mo	$7.49/mo

If You're Already a Pro Subscriber

You've been supporting Obico — some of you since the early Spaghetti Detective days. We haven't forgotten that, and we don't take it for granted.

Here's what's happening with your account:

• You'll be automatically upgraded to the next-gen AI model. No action needed.
• You'll receive a loyalty price — $5.49/mo (annual) or $7.49/mo (monthly) — lower than what new subscribers pay. This rate is locked in for as long as you keep your subscription active.
• The new pricing won't kick in until your next invoice. If your annual plan just renewed last month, you won't see any change for months. If you're on a monthly plan, the new rate applies on your next billing date after May 1.

If You Have AI Detection Hour Add-Ons

Nothing changes with your DH packs or Subscribe & Save plans. Your existing add-ons stay at their current pricing. The only change is your base AI Premium plan rate, and you'll get the loyalty pricing on that.

If You'd Rather Keep Things As They Are

We get it — not everyone needs or wants the latest model. If you'd prefer to stay on the current AI model at your current price, you can opt out.

Just go to your subscription page and click "Keep legacy plan & pricing." Your plan stays exactly as it is today — same AI model, same rate, no changes.

You can switch to the next-gen model later if you change your mind. If you do, the standard loyalty pricing will apply at that time.

If You're on the Free Plan

The free plan continues to include 10 AI Detection Hours per month with the current AI model. The next-gen model is available to Pro subscribers. Everything else about the free plan — remote access, webcam streaming, mobile app — remains unchanged.

Why We're Doing This

We're a small, independent team. We don't have VC funding to subsidize free infrastructure indefinitely. What we do have is a product that's gotten meaningfully better — a detection engine that catches nearly two-thirds more failures and bothers you with half as many false alerts.

We think that's worth more than the price of a coffee. We hope you do too.

If you have questions, reach out to us at support@obico.io or find us on Discord.

Print smart,
— The Obico Team