In a bid to enhance its AI offerings and streamline its brand identity, Google has rebranded its Bard AI chatbot as Gemini, accompanied by the launch of its dedicated Android app. This move follows a trend set by Microsoft’s recent renaming of Bing Chat to Copilot.

Gemini, named after Google’s multimodal AI model, is set to revolutionize the way users interact with AI-driven assistants. The upgraded version, Gemini Advanced, boasts enhanced capabilities and is available through a subscription model.

According to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the rebranding reflects the advanced technology at the core of the chatbot. He states, “Bard has been the best way for people to directly experience our most capable models. To reflect the advanced tech at its core, Bard will now simply be called Gemini.”

One notable feature of the Gemini Android app is its ability to replace Google Assistant as the default assistant on devices. Users can seamlessly switch to Gemini, gaining access to a conversational overlay on their display along with contextual suggestions.

Gemini’s capabilities extend beyond basic assistant tasks, offering features such as generating photo descriptions and providing detailed information about articles. Moreover, users can access commonly used Assistant features through the Gemini app.

Gemini is currently available in English in the US, with plans for expansion to more locales and languages in the future. Additionally, Google is introducing Gemini Advanced, powered by its largest AI model, Ultra 1.0. This advanced version excels in tasks like reasoning, coding, and creative collaboration.

Gemini Advanced is accessible through the new Google One AI Premium Plan, priced at $20 per month. Subscribers not only gain access to Gemini’s advanced features but also receive 2TB of cloud storage and other exclusive benefits.

To address concerns regarding bias and safety, Google assures users that extensive trust and safety checks have been conducted on Gemini Advanced. The company emphasizes its commitment to responsible AI development and deployment.

With Gemini’s rollout on Android and iOS platforms, Google aims to provide users with a seamless and powerful AI experience. As the company continues to innovate in the AI space, Gemini represents a significant milestone in its journey towards making AI more helpful and accessible to everyone.

Check out the official announcement here.