Starting October 9, Google will change how it releases its Gemini models. Free users will not have access to the Flash and Pro models and will be limited to the Flash-Lite version. Likewise, the Pro model will no longer be available for AI Plus users. However, AI Pro and AI Ultra customers will still be able to use all models, including Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro. The new Deep Think capability is also coming to AI Pro.
Google has announced changes to its Gemini Free Tier effective October 9. With the new structure, customers not subscribed to Google AI will be limited to Flash-Lite, while Flash and Pro levels are being withdrawn from the free offerings. This change is a departure from Google’s previous policy of restricting Gemini use to processing needs, which impacts users’ ability to ask complex queries and to employ advanced models.
Meanwhile, Google is testing the Gemini 4 Argon variant with a few cybersecurity pros via its Fairwind initiative. Google hasn’t said whether Argon will be added to the Pro tier or provided instead in a new, higher-priced tier, but the model is expected to be made accessible to paying API clients and AI Ultra subscribers at some point in the future.
Flash-Lite and Flash will continue to be available to AI Plus users, but the Pro function will not be included in the $4.99 a month subscription. Those affected by this change will receive an email with further information about their accounts. In contrast, AI Pro users will now have access to the Deep Think functionality formerly exclusive to AI Ultra users.
Meanwhile, the AI Pro subscription is priced at $19.99 (about Rs 1,900), while AI Ultra continues to provide access to this function at a higher pricing tier of $99.99 (around Rs 9,600) and $199.99 (around Rs 19,300).
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Deep Think uses parallel reasoning techniques to handle more complicated queries, requiring the use of the Pro model. Gemini will also have three new thinking settings called Low, Medium and High, which will give users an option of how much effort they want the AI to put into answering questions. It is vital to remember higher values will require a bigger slice of the user’s allocated use. Currently, Gemini also has extended thinking capabilities for complex enquiries, and they are already available in Google AI Studio and Antigravity.
