Google has rebranded its Bard chatbot as Gemini, reflecting the new artificial intelligence powering it. The company announced that consumers can now subscribe to Gemini Advanced for $19.99 a month in the US, gaining access to the more powerful Ultra 1.0 AI model.
Subscribers will also receive two terabytes of cloud storage, a feature that typically costs $9.99 monthly, and will soon be able to utilize Gemini within Gmail and Google’s productivity suite. This offering, bundled as the Google One AI Premium plan, represents Google’s response to competition from Microsoft and OpenAI in the subscription-based AI market.The move comes amidst growing competition for consumers seeking paid AI subscription options. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft’s AI subscription for programs like Word and Excel both cost $20 a month in the US.Product Lead Jack Krawczyk emphasized that the integration of cloud storage, Gmail, and other tools aligns Google’s subscription offering with how people work. He highlighted the target market as individuals seeking advanced generative AI technology capable of producing new content and answering complex queries.Google aims to leverage its large base of Android users by making Gemini available as the default digital assistant on Android phones. Krawczyk noted that this provides one of the most seamless ways to access AI technology.Gemini Advanced is currently available in English in 150 countries, with plans for expansion to additional regions and languages, including Japanese and Korean. Users can enjoy a two-month subscription trial at no cost.Regarding the name change, Krawczyk explained that it reflects Google’s evolved AI approach, ushering Bard into the Gemini era. The rollout of Gemini on smartphones will begin in the US and extend internationally in the coming weeks.
