Google Unveils Rebrand and Subscription Option for AI Assistant, Gemini

Google has rebranded its AI chatbot and assistant, Bard, to Gemini, aligning
with the suite of AI models powering the chatbot. This move is part of Google’s
commitment to advancing AI assistants and agents. Android users can now
download a dedicated app for Gemini, while iPhone users can access it within
the Google app on iOS. Google also introduced a subscription option, Gemini
Ultra 1.0, priced at $19.99 per month through Google One. The subscription
offers access to Google’s most powerful AI model and is available to users in
over 150 countries, initially supporting English and later expanding to include
Japanese and Korean.
The rebrand extends to Duet AI, now known as Gemini for Workspace and
Gemini for Google Cloud. Google One subscribers with the AI subscription can
utilise Gemini’s assistant capabilities in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet.
Google aims to enhance Gemini’s contextual understanding by incorporating
information from users’ content in Gmail, Docs, and Drive. The broader name
change aims to clarify that users are interacting directly with the underlying AI
models.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai emphasised Google’s dedication to AI during the
recent earnings call, envisioning an AI agent capable of handling various user
tasks. While Gemini’s current capabilities include summarisation, generating
to-do lists, and coding assistance, Google aims to evolve its AI models for
broader functionality in the future.