Technology
Thursday, February 8th, 2024 3:10 pm EDT
Key Points
- Google rebranded its artificial intelligence chatbot and assistant, Bard, renaming it Gemini, aligning with the suite of AI models powering the chatbot, and introduced a new app and subscription options, underscoring the company’s commitment to AI assistants.
- The rebranding reflects Google’s ambition to develop a comprehensive AI assistant capable of completing various tasks, as emphasized by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and other tech executives during recent earnings calls, positioning Gemini as a significant step towards this goal.
- Google’s rollout of Gemini includes new subscription options, language expansion plans, and integration with Google Workspace and Google Cloud, aiming to enhance productivity for both individual users and client companies, while the name change aims to clarify users’ interactions with the underlying AI models and underscores Google’s pursuit of building true AI assistants.
Google introduced a significant rebranding of its artificial intelligence chatbot and assistant, Bard, now named Gemini, aligning with the suite of AI models empowering the chatbot. This move signifies Google’s commitment to advancing AI assistants, offering consumers new ways to access Gemini through a dedicated Android app for Android users and integration within the Google app for iOS users. The rebrand and app updates reflect Google’s dedication to investing in AI agents, a term encompassing various tools from chatbots to coding assistants. Sundar Pichai, Alphabet’s CEO, emphasized the company’s focus on AI during a recent earnings call, envisioning an AI agent capable of performing diverse tasks within Google Search. Google’s push towards building a comprehensive AI assistant is exemplified by Gemini’s launch, marking the initial steps towards this ambitious goal. Alongside the rebrand, Google introduced an AI subscription option, providing access to Gemini Ultra 1.0, its most powerful AI model, for $19.99 per month via Google One, with existing subscribers receiving the service as part of their plans. The rollout spans over 150 countries initially in English, with plans for expansion to include Japanese and Korean, among other languages. The rebrand extends beyond Bard to encompass Duet AI, now known as Gemini for Workspace and Gemini for Google Cloud, targeting enhanced productivity for client companies like Wayfair and Pfizer. Google One subscribers gain access to Gemini’s assistant capabilities across various Google platforms, with plans to integrate contextual understanding derived from user content. The overarching name change aims to clarify users’ interactions with the underlying AI models, emphasizing the cutting-edge technology powering the chatbot. While Gemini currently excels in tasks like summarization and task management, Google envisions its AI agents evolving to perform more complex functions, facilitating seamless user experiences across various domains. Pichai’s remarks hint at leveraging generative AI to enhance Google Assistant and Search, enabling deeper engagement and personalized assistance beyond simple queries. As Google continues to refine Gemini and its AI capabilities, the potential for transformative user interactions and productivity enhancements remains promising.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/08/google-gemini-ai-launches-in-new-app-subscription.html
