Google, the tech giant known for its powerful search engine and various AI-powered services, has made some significant announcements regarding its AI offerings. The company has renamed its AI services as Gemini and introduced a new app and subscription service.
The Gemini app, named after an AI project unveiled last year, aims to enable users to rely on technology instead of their own brains for various tasks such as writing, interpretation, and more. Google has decided to replace its Bard chatbot, which was introduced a year ago, with the Gemini app to keep up with the competition from Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The Gemini app will be initially available as a standalone app for Android smartphones, with the features set to be integrated into the existing search app for iPhones in the coming weeks. By offering the Gemini app, Google aims to provide an enhanced user experience and believes it could become the primary way users utilize AI technology to think, plan, and create.
The rollout of the Gemini app will begin in the United States in English, with plans to expand into the Asia-Pacific region shortly after. Japanese and Korean versions of the app are also in the works.
In addition to the free version of the Gemini app, Google will be introducing an advanced subscription service that will cost $20 per month. This premium service, powered by an AI technology called Ultra 1.0, will offer sophisticated features such as tutoring students, providing computer programming tips, generating project ideas, and creating customized content based on user preferences.
Google aims to leverage its existing user base, which includes nearly 100 million subscribers, and believes that the AI technology offered through the Gemini Advanced subscription is worth an additional $10 per month. To encourage users to try out the advanced service, Google is offering a free two-month trial.
The launch of the Gemini app signifies Google’s commitment to bringing more AI capabilities to smartphones, considering the significant role these devices play in people’s lives. This move puts Google in direct competition with Microsoft and intensifies the ongoing AI battle between the two tech giants.
However, the introduction of increasingly sophisticated AI also raises concerns and fears about potential malfunctions and misuse. It has led to the implementation of regulations to govern the use of AI technology. Google assures that its Gemini products have undergone extensive testing to ensure safety and adhere to its AI principles, which include being socially beneficial, avoiding biases, and being accountable to users.
With this latest development, Google continues to pursue its mission of organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful. The company believes that the Gemini app and subscription service represent a significant step toward achieving this goal.
