Google is shrinking your Gemini choices unless you pay more
Free and AI Plus subscribers are losing access to Flash and Pro models
Google is changing access to its Gemini AI models based on users' payment plans. From October 9, free users will only be able to access the Flash-Lite model, losing access to the Flash and Pro models. According to TechRadar, users on the $4.99 AI Plus plan will also lose access to the Pro model, but will still be able to use Flash.
The changes mean that free users will be limited to the fastest answers model, while AI Plus subscribers will have access to the all-around help model, Flash. The more expensive AI Pro and AI Ultra tiers will not be affected, with AI Pro subscribers gaining access to the Deep Think mode, which maximizes parallel reasoning.
Users on the AI Plus plan will receive an email explaining when the changes will take effect, while free users will be affected from October 9. The updates will limit access to the most powerful models for users who do not pay for a Gemini subscription or the AI Plus plan.
Brief written by urgent.news from Android Police, TechRadar, Techmeme, The Economic Times — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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