Google Rebrands Bard to Gemini and Rolls Out Paid Version

Google rebranded its chatbot Bard to Gemini and launched a mobile app. The tech mogul also introduced Gemini Advanced, a premium version powered by its new, “most capable” AI model Ultra 1.0.

Gemini Advanced can handle more complex tasks like deeper reasoning, creative work, and coding. The premium service can understand the context of previous conversations, respond to longer prompts, and maintain longer conversations. According to Google, use cases include a coding assistant, personal tutor, and idea generator.

Gemini Advanced is available through the Google One AI Premium subscription plan priced at $19.99 per month – the same as rival ChatGPT Plus’s subscription. Google is offering a two-month free trial for Gemini Advanced to encourage AI enthusiasts to try it. Users can still access the chatbot’s free version running on Google’s Pro 1.0 model.

Google One AI Premium includes access to the company’s latest AI advancements along with existing features like 2 TB of storage. Soon Google One subscribers will also be able to access Gemini within the company’s productivity tools like Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and others.

Additionally, Gemini is replacing Duet AI, the company’s AI collaborator in Google Workspace. Google is also rolling out an Android mobile app for Gemini and integrating it into Google Assistant on Android devices. When downloading the app, Android users can choose to set Gemini as their default assistant, indicating that it might completely replace its traditional assistant in the future.

For iOS users, Google will be offering an integration in the Google app in the following weeks. The Gemini app currently supports English, with Korean and Japanese languages coming next. Google promised to expand the apps to more countries and languages in the future.

“I think it’s a super important first step towards building a true AI assistant,” Sissie Hsiao said. The head of Gemini at Google emphasized that Gemini is “conversational, it’s multimodal, and it’s more helpful than ever before.”

Google’s response to user demand for mobile accessibility comes months after its rival ChatGPT became available on mobile. ChatGPT’s iOS app launched in May of last year, with Android not far behind.

Google introduced Gemini in December and is implementing it across its products at a rapid pace. Aside from the new integrations, Gemini is present in Google’s experimental Search Generative Experience and Google ads. The company is also expected to integrate Gemini in Search sometime this year.