In an announcement on February 8, 2024, Google informed users that their previous experimental AI LLM chatbot, Bard, has evolved into Gemini. The name is identical to the latest LLM model, which the company unveiled last year. This name change comes with some new things as well — specifically, the introduction of Gemini Advanced and the app.
What’s new with Google Gemini?
While Google Assistant is simple and useful, it somehow doesn’t fit in with the recent advancements in AI development. Finally, the standalone Gemini app can replace it. With this, users can select which application to use as an assistant in the app. It can access Gmail, Maps, and other Google apps. It can also export results in Google Docs and Google Sheets.
We just crossed 100M Google One subscribers! Looking forward to building on that momentum with our new AI Premium Plan (launched yesterday) offering AI features like Gemini Advanced, plus Gemini in Gmail, Docs + more coming soon. https://t.co/m7zAVop7P6 pic.twitter.com/sMdwJeq0iU
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) February 9, 2024
Apart from the app, Google also introduced Gemini Advanced, a subscription plan that grants users access to Gemini Ultra 1.0, 2 TB of cloud storage space, and other Google One benefits. There are some upcoming features like Gemini in Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail, etc. As of February 9, Google One premium subscriptions reached 100 million subscribers with the release of this plan.
Of course, the most interesting feature of the plan is the Gemini Ultra, which is the most powerful model of the three variants. It has a superior ability to code and analyze files and text. Currently, Ultra is optimized only in English. It can answer questions in other languages, but the quality of the response will drop.
The Gemini Advanced plan is priced at $20 per month with a two-month free trial. It is still limited to certain regions but will be available globally soon. Meanwhile, the app is currently available for Android and iOS. While this is not yet available in all regions with the app and service, they plan to build this out further to cater to more users around the globe.
YouTube: Bard becomes Gemini | Ultra 1.0 and a new mobile app
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Photo credits: The screenshot used in the body of the article has been taken by the author for TechAcute.
