Google launches Gemini Ultra, its most powerful LLM yet
Google Bard is no more. Almost exactly a year after first introducing its (rushed) efforts to challenge OpenAI's ChatGPT, the company is retiring the name and rebranding Bard as Gemini, the name of its family of foundation models. More importantly, though, it is also now launching Gemini Ultra, its most capable large language model yet.
Gemini Ultra: Google's Latest Innovation
Gemini Ultra will be a paid experience, though. Google is making it available through a new $20 Google One tier (with a two-month free trial) that also includes 2TB of storage and the rest of Google One's feature set, as well as access to Gemini in Google Workspace apps like Docs, Slides, Sheets and Meet. With that, Google will also sunset the Duet AI brand, which was mostly restricted to its AI features in Workspace, and move that to Gemini as well.
Expanding Reach and Capabilities
The company is also launching a new Gemini app for Android and bringing it to the Google app on iOS -- and on Android, you can now replace your Google Assistant with Gemini, too. As for developers who want API access to the Ultra model, Google said it'll have more to share in the coming weeks. Gemini Advanced will be available in more than 150 countries and territories, but only in English for the time being. Japanese and Korean are next on the roadmap for additional languages.
Enhanced Features and Functionality
The company is also proud to announce the launch of Gemini 1.5, our next-generation model, which is now available for Private use. This model brings advanced capabilities to users, enhancing the overall experience.
When Google announced Gemini, it only made the Gemini Pro model widely available through Bard. Gemini Pro, Google said at the time, performed at roughly the level of GPT-3.5. Back then, Google said Gemini Ultra, the flagship model, would launch to consumers in early 2024 after a round of private tests.
Google describes Gemini Ultra 1.0 as a model that sets the state of the art across various benchmarks across text, image, audio and video. According to Sissie Hsiao of Google, "Gemini Ultra 1.0 is more than just the models. It's really a shift in how we think about the state-of-the-art technology and the entire ecosystem that we're building on it."
Gemini Ultra 1.0 is multi-model, allowing users to engage in conversations about images, among other features. Users can sign up for the new $20 Google One AI Premium plan to access Gemini Advanced, which offers the Ultra 1.0 model.
Indeed, $20 per month is currently the going price for most advanced AI chat tools, including ChatGPT. Google has an advantage here in that it can layer additional features on top without incurring too much extra cost.
Even existing Google One subscribers will receive a free two-month trial if they upgrade to the new AI Premium plan.
Gemini: Shaping the Future of AI
Google's advancements in AI, particularly with the launch of Gemini Ultra, showcase the company's commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of technology. With Gemini Advanced, users can expect enhanced capabilities and functionalities that cater to a wide range of applications.
