Google renames its AI chatbot Gemini and launches first mobile app

Google has changed the name of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot from Bard to Gemini, announced that the technology will be available in the new Gemini app for Android and through the Google app on iOS, and launched an “enhanced” version of payments.

Shortly after the popularity of ChatGPT Open IA, Goggle launched its chatbot Bard in early 2023 and announced its multimodal model Gemini at the end of the year.

Vice President and General Manager of Gemini Experiences and Google Assistant Sissy Xiao said at a press conference that, in addition to changing the name and logo, the chatbot, running on the Gemini Pro language model (LLM), is available worldwide in 40 languages ​​- it the same.

“Self-awareness is not an easy task for models, so if (Gemini) were asked on Thursday, ‘What’s your name?’ Perhaps he will answer: “I am a Bard,” Xiao noted.

Google artificial intelligence assistant in a free application

Google is also launching the Gemini mobile app for Android in the US and accessing Gemini from the Google app on iOS, where users can write, speak and share images using a chatbot.

“This is a very important first step towards creating a true AI assistant,” Xiao stressed, explaining that users can take a photo of a flat tire and that Gemini will respond with step-by-step guidance on how to change it.

For Android phones, Gemini can also become the phone’s main assistant, and users can activate Gemini using the center button of their phone or by saying, “Hey Google” or “Ok Google.”

Starting next week, Google will launch access to Gemini apps in the Asia Pacific region in English, Japanese and Korean, with more countries and languages, including Spanish, coming soon.

Gemini Advanced, paid version of Gemini

Another Google launch in 150 countries is Gemini Advanced, where the chatbot has access to LLM Ultra 1.0 and is still capable of answering—so far only in English—more complex tasks such as programming, logical reasoning or creative collaboration.

“Gemini Advanced allows you to not only enter longer queries, but also better understand the context of previous queries,” explains Xiao.

A subscription to access Gemini Advanced will cost 19.99 per month and also gives access to the premium Google One package and 2 terabytes of Google storage.

“We’re really excited for people to start testing Gemini Advanced. “So, we will have a two-month free trial,” announced Shimrit Ben-Yair, vice president of Google Photos and Google One.

Additionally, the company announced that it is working to ensure that Google One AI Premium users will be able to use Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet “soon.”

With these statements, Google is trying to demonstrate that it is still fighting to become the company of reference when it comes to chatbots, a battle that also includes other heavyweights such as OpenAI and Microsoft, which also offer AI subscriptions to your Microsoft 365 Apps.