Just like Microsoft renamed Bing Chat Google is doing the same with Bard and Duet AI to unify the generative AI brand. Services after . Name change . Google also debuted a dedicated Gemini Android app, along with a paid version of the chatbot with more advanced capabilities.
“Bard has been the best way for people to experience our most capable models firsthand,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said. . “Bard will now simply be called Gemini to reflect the advanced technology. It’s available online in 40 languages and is coming to the new Gemini app on Android and the Google app on iOS.”
Those who download the Gemini Android app can actually replace Google Assistant as the default assistant on their device. So when you long-press the home button or say “Hey Google,” your phone or tablet might launch Gemini instead of Assistant. You can also make this switch by signing in through the Assistant.
Doing so will enable a new conversation overlay on your screen. Along with quick access to Gemini, the overlay will offer contextual suggestions, such as creating a caption for the photo you just took or asking for more information about the article on your screen.
You’ll also be able to access commonly used Assistant features from making calls and setting timers to controlling smart home devices through the Gemini app. Google said it will bring more assistant features to Gemini in the future. It certainly sounds like Google is ditching Assistant in favor of Gemini. The app also includes access to Gemini Advanced (more on that in a moment).
As for iOS, there won’t be a separate Gemini app just yet. Instead, you can access it through the Google app by tapping the Gemini link.
Gemini is available in English on Android and iOS in the US starting today. Next week, Google will start offering the chatbot more in English, as well as Japanese and Korean. As you might expect, Gemini is coming to more countries and languages.
In addition, Google opens access to Ultra 1.0, the largest and most capable AI model through Gemini Advanced. The company claims it can hold longer and deeper conversations with the ability to remember context from previous conversations. It says Gemini Advanced is “more adept at highly complex tasks such as coding, logical reasoning, following nuanced instructions, and collaborating on creative projects.”
Gemini Advanced is now available in English in 150 countries and territories. You must register for a new one to access it . It costs $20 per month – — after a two-month free trial. Along with Gemini Advanced, this subscription includes everything from the Google One Premium Plan, including 2 TB of storage and . Subscribers will also be able to use Gemini in apps like Gmail, Docs, Slides, and Sheets in the near future (it replaces ).
Notably, Google said it tried to mitigate concerns such as bias and dangerous content when building Gemini Advanced and other AI products. The company said it had previously performed extensive trust and security checks on Gemini Advanced, including “external red-teaming” (ie, testing by third-party ethical hackers). with reinforcement learning and fine-tuning.
