Google Bard Chatbot is Now Gemini, with a Paid Premium Version

February 9, 2024

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Google is integrating Bard and Duet AI into Gemini, which will now include a paid premium tier that provides access to the company’s largest and most advanced large language models.

Google announced on Thursday that it will rename its Bard chatbot Gemini and launch a dedicated mobile app for Android and iOS. The company is also releasing Gemini Ultra 1.0, the largest and most powerful of Google’s large language models.

Gemini will be available in over 150 English-speaking countries and territories beginning today. Gemini Advanced will be available as part of the Google One AI Premium Plan for $19.99 per month, with a free two-month trial.

The search engine giant claims the chatbot is available in 40 languages. The version with Ultra will be called Gemini Advanced, and it is intended to be more capable of reasoning, following instructions, coding, and creative collaboration. The company claims to be a personal tutor who can cater to your learning style.

Gemini Advanced with Ultra 1.0 is the “most preferred chatbot compared to leading alternatives in blind evaluations with third-party raters,” according to the company in a press statement. It is intended to enable users to have longer, more detailed conversations and even understand context from previous prompts.

Using Gemini on your phone should allow you to type, talk, or upload an image for AI assistance while on the go. For example, you could take a picture of a flat tire and ask for directions, or you could design a custom image for dinner party invitations.

If you download the Gemini app for Android or enable Google Assistant, you can access it through the app or any other method you normally use to activate the assistant, such as pressing the power button or corner swiping on some phones.

There will be a new overlay that allows for easier access to the Google chatbot, which can provide contextual help right on the screen.

For years, we’ve been investing heavily in AI as the single most effective way to improve Search and all of our offerings. We’re excited about the progress made, such as with our Search Generative Experience, or SGE, which you can try in Search Labs.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, wrote in a company blog post that AI is now central to two rapidly growing businesses: our Cloud and Workspace services, as well as our popular subscription service Google One, which is about to reach 100 million subscribers.