Google has been actively updating its AI offerings, including renaming Bard to Gemini and introducing a dedicated Android app. Notably, Google has introduced a paid tier for its generative AI engine, marking the first-time users have to consider a digital subscription.
For an in-depth understanding of Google’s AI tools, you can refer to our article on Google Gemini explained. Here, we’ll focus on breaking down the features of Google Gemini Advanced, a part of the new Google One AI Premium tier. We’ll delve into the cost of this cloud tier and outline the AI features and benefits it offers, helping you decide whether it’s worth subscribing. This premium tier is integrated into Google One plans, providing users with additional cloud storage. Stay tuned for an overview of Google One AI Premium and its shaping features.
Pricing and Availability of Google One AI Premium 
The Google One AI Premium plan is now available for purchase at a monthly cost of $19.99 / £18.99 / AU$32.99. Unlike certain other Google One plans, there is no option to pay annually for a discounted overall price. However, you have the flexibility to cancel the subscription at any time.
As of the current moment, Google is providing a free two-month trial of Google One AI Premium. This means you can enjoy the benefits of the premium plan without any charges for the initial two months. To explore and compare plans, you can sign up on the Google One site.
Features and Benefits of Google One AI Premium 
With the Google One AI Premium plan, you’ll receive 2TB of storage. Subscribers can utilize across various Google services such as Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. If you’ve found the limitations of the free 15GB storage plan restrictive, upgrading to this premium plan provides a significant increase in storage.
While there are other Google One plans available offering storage ranging from 2TB to 30TB, it’s important to note that only the Google One AI Premium plan includes all the Gemini Advanced features.
In addition to the storage space, all Google One plans come with various perks, including priority support, a 10% rebate in the Google Store, additional Google Photos editing features (such as Magic Eraser), a dark web monitoring service for personal information leaks, and access to the Google One VPN.
The primary focus of Google One AI Premium is on its AI features, and a key component of this plan is access to Gemini Advanced. This entails the use of the “most capable” version of Google’s Gemini model, known as Ultra 1.0. In a similar comparison, you can liken it to upgrading from the free ChatGPT plan to ChatGPT Plus.
According to Google, Gemini Ultra 1.0 as delivering “state-of-the-art performance” with the ability to handle “highly complex tasks” involving text, images, and code. Gemini Advanced, compared to its counterparts, allows for longer conversations and a better understanding of context. If you’re seeking the most powerful AI in Google’s repertoire, Gemini Advanced, available with Google One AI Premium, is the choice to consider.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai states that the largest model, Ultra 1.0, is the first to surpass human experts in Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU). MMLU involves a diverse set of 57 subjects, including math, physics, history, law, medicine, and ethics, to evaluate knowledge and problem-solving skills.
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Google Gemini App on Smartphones 
The dedicated Google Gemini app for Android and the Gemini features integrated into the Google app for iOS are accessible to all users, whether or not they subscribe to the premium plan, and the same applies to the web interface. However, subscribers to the premium plan benefit from the superior Ultra 1.0 model across all these platforms.
For reference, a standard 2TB Google One plan, which includes photo editing features, VPN access, and more but excludes AI capabilities, comes with a price tag of $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$19.99 per month. Consequently, opting for the Gemini Advanced features will cost you an additional $10 / £11 / AU$13 on top of the standard plan.
Integration of Gemini with Google’s productivity apps, including Gmail, Google Docs, Google Meet, and Google Slides, is on the horizon, as per Google. This integration, known as Gemini for Workspace, will soon be accessible and included as part of the Google One AI Premium plan. It aims to assist users in composing emails, designing presentations, and more within these Google productivity applications.
This rebranding encompasses the features previously known as Duet AI, which the company introduced for users of Google’s apps. Regardless of whether you’re an individual or a business user, you can access these integrated AI tools by subscribing to the Google One AI Premium plan.
To summarize, beyond the standard 2TB Google One plan, the key benefit is gaining access to the latest Gemini AI features from Google. The company also hints at future developments, promising additional features to come.
Opinion on Google One AI Premium 
Google’s offer of a free two-month trial for the One AI Premium Plan, which includes Gemini Advanced, seems like a compelling opportunity for those interested in exploring some of the most potent AI tools currently available. However, it’s important to note that managing and canceling any unwanted free trials is essential.
That being said, it’s crucial to recognize that Gemini Advanced is still in its early stages. A thorough evaluation and comparison with other AI tools, such as ChatGPT Plus, are pending. Additionally, its integration with Google’s productivity apps is stated as “available soon,” leaving some uncertainty regarding the exact timeline for this feature. As the service evolves, more insights and comparisons will likely become available.
For a comprehensive exploration of the performance of Google’s latest AI models, including Gemini Advanced, you can refer to the company’s Gemini benchmarking report. Some fortunate testers, like AI professor Ethan Mollick, have had the opportunity to experiment with Gemini Advanced for a while, having gained advanced access.
Early impressions suggest that Gemini Advanced is positioning itself as a formidable AI contender, possibly comparable to a GPT-4 class AI. It is here to compete with ChatGPT Plus, particularly for demanding tasks such as coding and advanced problem-solving. Additionally, Gemini Advanced will integrate smoothly with Google’s apps. The practical success of these integrations will become clearer over time. However, for early adopters eager to explore, the free trial offers an opportunity to delve into Gemini Advanced.
