Google has rebranded its Bard AI chatbot as Gemini, alongside the introduction of its standalone Android app. An upgraded paid version named Gemini Advanced is also now available.
Similar to Microsoft’s renaming of Bing Chat to Copilot for streamlined generative AI branding, Google has unified its services under the name Gemini, inspired by its multimodal AI model. This name change was previously leaked earlier this month. Additionally, Google has launched a dedicated Gemini Android app and unveiled a premium version of the chatbot with enhanced capabilities.
In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai explained the transition, stating, “Bard has been the best way for people to directly experience our most capable models. To reflect the advanced tech at its core, Bard will now simply be called Gemini. It’s available in 40 languages on the web and is coming to a new Gemini app on Android and on the Google app on iOS.”
Users who download the Gemini Android app can opt to replace Google Assistant as the default assistant on their device. This enables Gemini to launch instead of Assistant when users long-press the home button or use the “Hey Google” command. Additionally, users can switch to Gemini by opting in through Assistant, which activates a new conversational overlay on the display. This overlay provides contextual suggestions and access to commonly used Assistant features.
While there won’t be a separate Gemini app for iOS, users can access it through the Google app by toggling the Gemini option. Gemini is initially available in English in the US on both Android and iOS, with plans to expand to more locales and languages, including Japanese and Korean, in the near future.
Google is also introducing Gemini Advanced, which provides access to its largest and most capable AI model, Ultra 1.0. This model is designed for longer and more in-depth conversations, with improved abilities in tasks like coding, logical reasoning, and collaborating on creative projects. Gemini Advanced is available in English in 150 countries and territories through the new Google One AI Premium Plan, priced at $20 per month after a two-month free trial. This subscription includes 2TB of storage, a VPN, and future integration with apps like Gmail, Docs, Slides, and Sheets.
Google emphasizes that it has taken measures to address concerns such as bias and unsafe content in developing Gemini Advanced and other AI products. Extensive trust and safety checks, including external red-teaming by third-party ethical hackers, were conducted on Gemini Advanced before refining the model with reinforcement learning and fine-tuning.
