Google is offering free access to Gemini Advanced for students in the United States. This opportunity includes access to Gemini Advanced, Whisk, NotebookLM Plus, and 2TB of cloud storage at no cost until June 30, 2026. Eligible students need to sign up before June 30, 2025 to avail of this offer.
Gemini Advanced is Google's powerful AI model supported by Gemini 2.5 Pro, offering a wide range of features to enhance academic work. It enables deep research by summarising multiple sources instantly, providing contextual explanations, and integrating seamlessly with Google tools like Sheets, Gmail, and Docs. With 2TB of storage, students can store notes, presentations, assignments, and projects, and even create videos and podcasts using text files. Additionally, Gemini Live allows real-time brainstorming and concept clarification.
This move by Google seems to position them ahead of competitors like Microsoft's Copilot and OpenAI's ChatGPT by integrating AI directly into students' academic environments.
Unfortunately, this offer is exclusive to students in the US who meet specific criteria, such as age, .edu email address, US residency, enrollment verification, and the use of a personal Gmail account. Students in India or outside the US are not eligible for this free access.
Google One AI Premium Plan offers access to Gemini Advanced in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and more for Indian students at a monthly cost. This plan provides similar functionalities as the US-only student offer, catering to users outside the US.
Indian students, however, can access Gemini Advanced through the Google One AI Premium Plan at a monthly cost of Rs 1,950, offering similar functionalities as the US-only student offer. While this initiative benefits US students significantly, it leaves out a vast global student community, including those in India.
Even with India's technological advancements, students outside the US must currently consider the paid subscription for Gemini Advanced, hoping that Google will extend similar offers globally in the future.
On a different note, a recent IPL game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens was interrupted by heavy rain and strong winds, leading to chaos on the field. The situation was described as "absolute chaos" by former cricketer Matthew Hayden, highlighting the challenges faced by the ground staff trying to manage the covers. The game was halted with Kolkata at 7/0 in pursuit of a 202-run target.
