Google Gemini is a generative AI chatbot developed by Google, launched in February 2024 as a successor to Bard. It is powered by a large language model also named Gemini, introduced in December 2023 to replace LaMDA. Gemini supports over 40 languages and is accessible in more than 200 countries.
Gemini is integrated across Google products such as Android, Chrome, Photos, and Workspace. Users can interact with it via a dedicated app on Android and iOS, or through the official website. Android users can even replace Google Assistant with Gemini as their default assistant.
The chatbot offers a wide range of functions including text generation, proofreading, summarising, language translation, and research assistance. It features two versions: Gemini 2.5 Flash, optimised for speed, and Gemini 2.5 Pro, designed for complex reasoning. Users can switch between the two depending on their needs.
Unlike static AI models, Gemini can perform real-time Google searches, making it capable of answering questions about current events and providing citations. It also includes image generation via Imagen 3 and, for developers, the ability to summarise YouTube videos.
The basic version of Gemini is free and includes access to Flash, limited use of Pro, image generation, and features like Gemini Live (real-time conversation), Canvas (an interactive workspace), Gems (custom AI assistants), and NotebookLM (a research tool). Google also offers a one-month free trial of its AI Pro plan, which includes video generation, AI filmmaking tools, and coding support, priced at £18.99 per month. The AI Ultra plan, offering access to Gemini 2.5 Deep Think, is available from £119.99 per month.
In March 2025, Google began upgrading Assistant users to Gemini, with plans to fully phase out Google Assistant by the end of the year. Gemini will also be rolled out to tablets, cars, headphones, smartwatches, and Google Home devices. A limited release of Gemini for Home began in August, with broader availability expected in October.
While ChatGPT remains a strong competitor, particularly in text generation, Gemini’s native multimodal design and deep integration with Google services make it a compelling alternative. It also boasts a one-million-token context window, far surpassing GPT-4o’s 128,000 tokens, offering superior memory for complex tasks.
