Google rebrands Bard to Gemini and introduces premium plan

Google has announced the renaming of its Bard AI chatbot. The new name is Gemini, which is also the name of Google's most powerful AI model. The Pro 1.0 version is currently accessible in over 40 languages and 230 countries.

Sissie Hsiao, Google's VP and General Manager of Gemini and Google Assistant experiences, commented on the Bard rebranding:

Since we launched Bard last year, people all over the world have used it to collaborate with AI in a completely new way — to prepare for job interviews, debug code, brainstorm new business ideas or, as we announced last week, create captivating images.

Our mission with Bard has always been to give you direct access to our AI models, and Gemini represents our most capable family of models. To reflect this, Bard will now simply be known as Gemini.

In addition to a new name, Google has created an Android app for Gemini. You may use it just like any other app and substitute Google Assistant with it. Saying "Hey Google" will activate a new overlay experience that allows you to quickly access Gemini and contextualize what is occurring on your screen. Google also adds that the Gemini app supports the majority of Assistant's functionalities.

On iOS, iPhone users will be able to access Gemini using the usual Google app. The business is now rolling out the Gemini app for Android and the Google app update for iOS to clients in the United States, with other nations to follow in the coming weeks.

Finally, Google is preparing to introduce a premium version of Gemini. Gemini Advanced is based on Google's "most capable state-of-the-art AI model," Ultra 1.0. According to the business, Gemini Advanced is far more capable of doing very difficult activities like writing code, thinking, following subtle directions, accomplishing creative projects, and so on. In addition, Gemini Advanced allows you to conduct longer and more thorough talks.

Gemini Advanced is currently accessible in English in more than 150 countries. Similar to Microsoft's Copilot Pro, it costs $19.99/month. However, it is coupled to the Google One membership, which includes extra benefits such as 2TB of Google Drive storage. Additionally, you may sample the Google One AI Premium Plan for two months free.