Google's new Gemini 2.0 model is built to power AI agents
Google unveiled its most capable model, Gemini 2.0, to power the “new agentic era” of artificial intelligence. The tech giant introduced Gemini 2.0, which “will enable us to build new AI agents that bring us closer to our vision of a universal assistant,” Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said. The company is working to roll out the new model across its products. AI agents are software that can complete complex tasks autonomously for a user.
New Capabilities of Gemini 2.0
Gemini 2.0 comes with new multimodal capabilities, including native image and audio output, according to Pichai. Google had launched Gemini 1.0 last December, which was the first “natively multimodal” model, capable of processing and responding to text, video, image, audio, and code inquiries.
Access to Gemini 2.0
Developers and testers will be the first to get access to Gemini 2.0, while all Gemini users will have access to the Gemini 2.0 Flash experimental model. The Flash model builds off of Gemini 1.5 Flash, launched in July, as Google's fastest, most cost-efficient model.
Integration with AI Overviews
Google will incorporate Gemini 2.0's reasoning capabilities into its AI Overviews feature, which reaches one billion people and is “quickly becoming one of our most popular Search features ever.” With Gemini 2.0, AI Overviews can now solve advanced multi-step queries, such as mathematical equations and multimodal questions.
Testing and Rollout
Limited testing for Gemini 2.0 in AI Overviews began recently, and the reasoning feature will roll out to more users early next year. The reasoning model runs on Google’s custom 6th-generation AI chip, Trillium, which is 4x better in performance and 67% more energy efficient than its predecessor, as per Google.
Deep Research Feature
Pichai also announced a new Gemini feature called Deep Research, which can “act as a research assistant” by leveraging advanced reasoning and long context capabilities. Deep Research, available in Gemini Advanced, can compile research reports on behalf of a user.
