Google’s Bard now called Gemini as it expands to mobile, paid versions

Earlier this week, Google renamed its Bard chatbot Gemini, along with the addition of mobile app options and a paid version of the service, Axios reported.

The tech giant’s latest move aims to show that it can keep pace with the latest artificial intelligence (AI) products from Microsoft and OpenAI.

Google is rebranding its Bard AI as Gemini after only a year, inspired by recent AI models that underlie the latest version of the service.

Google Cloud is also renaming Duet AI, adopting the Gemini moniker.

According to Axios, Gemini will have its own app on Android and can replace Google Assistant as the primary voice assistant, while it will be a tab within the Google app on iOS, according to Axios.

Additionally, Google is introducing a paid version of its chatbot, Gemini Advanced, as part of a new $20-per-month Google One subscription tier, offering access to the highest-end Gemini Ultra model and 2TB of cloud storage.

The paid version of Google’s AI chatbot, Google competes directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft’s Copilot Pro, offering 2TB of cloud storage for the same $20 per month price.

The company is also offering a two-month free trial for existing subscribers and non-subscribers of Google One.

Google is billing Gemini as the successor to Assistant, enabling the chatbot to set timers, make calls, and manage smart home products, but it lacks the full range of actions that Assistant does.

Google currently lacks a Gemini-based alternative to Assistant for devices like speakers, smart displays, and TVs. The new chatbot cannot access the calendar or play music from Spotify like Assistant.

Furthermore, the company said that paid subscribers will soon also have access to a version of Gemini that works within Gmail as well as apps like Docs, Sheets, Slides and Meet.