The tech giant is making changes to how people access its different language models. It will soon introduce new limits for people using the free version of its tools and those on the lower paid tier. At the same time, the company is adding a powerful reasoning feature to the mid level plan. These updates show how Google wants to separate the features available in its Gemini app.
Free users and AI Plus subscribers face new model limits
Starting October 9, people who do not pay for a subscription will only have access to the Flash-Lite model. They will lose access to the standard Flash and Pro versions as the company manages its artificial intelligence resources.
This shift also affects the lower tier paid plan. AI Plus subscribers, who pay $4.99 per month, will be able to use Flash-Lite and Flash. However, they will no longer have access to the Pro model. The company plans to send an email to these users to explain when this change will happen.
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Higher tier plans get new reasoning options and effort levels
The more expensive plans are not losing any features. People on the $19.99 per month AI Pro plan will keep access to Flash-Lite, Flash, and Pro. They will also gain the Deep Think feature, which helps with complex problem solving. This option is currently only available on the much more expensive $99.99 and $199.99 per month plans.
The app will also introduce low, medium, and high effort levels for the available models in October. These settings will help the models complete tasks better and give more thorough answers, though higher settings will use more of the user limit. These adjustments reflect a broader trend in how the tech industry structures access to advanced AI tools.
It remains to be seen how users will respond to these changes. By keeping the best models for the higher paying tiers, the company is making a clear push to encourage people to upgrade. The upcoming release of the Gemini 4 Argon model, which is expected to arrive first for AI Ultra subscribers, will likely support this strategy.
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