Bard Becomes Gemini: New Mobile App and Ultra 1.0 AI Launch
Google announced that its AI chatbot Bard will now be known as Gemini. The company is rolling out two new Gemini experiences – Gemini Advanced powered by a new AI model called Ultra 1.0, and a Gemini mobile app.
Gemini Advanced gives users access to Ultra 1.0, Google’s “largest and most capable state-of-the-art AI model” that outperformed alternatives in third-party evaluations. It can handle more complex tasks like coding, reasoning, and creative collaboration.
The new Gemini mobile app provides conversational AI assistance on Android and iOS. On Android, Gemini is integrated into the Google Assistant so it can be accessed hands-free or via an overlay. On iOS, it is available within the Google app.
Gemini Advanced is part of Google’s new AI Premium subscription for Google One users, which also provides expanded Google Workspace integration in the future. The mobile Gemini app is initially launching in English in the U.S. on Android and iOS, with additional languages and countries in the works.
To access Gemini Advanced, Google is launching an AI Premium Plan for Google One subscribers. For $19.99/month after a free two-month trial, users get Gemini Advanced and 2TB of storage. AI Premium members will also soon be able to use Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Sheets and other Google workspace apps.
Google stated its commitment to responsible AI development, conducting safety checks and refinements to mitigate issues. The launch represents a major advancement of its generative AI capabilities and availability across platforms.
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