Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Google Renames Bard, Introduces Tiered Models and Pricing

Google has rebranded its Bard conversational AI chatbot and introduced tiered pricing model for access to advanced features.

Bard is now called "Gemini," taking the name of Google's AI model that launched two months ago. At that time, Google touted Gemini as its "largest and most capable AI model," releasing it in three sizes: Ultra, the largest; Pro, the all-purpose model; and Nano, the smallest.

The move to rename Bard to Gemini reflects the work Google has done to improve the chatbot's innards, indicated Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a blog post Thursday. "Bard has been the best way for people to directly experience our most capable models," he wrote. "To reflect the advanced tech at its core, Bard will now simply be called Gemini."

Google also introduced a more advanced version of the chatbot, called "Gemini Advanced." Previously, the Gemini chatbot (then called Bard) ran only the Pro model. That version of the chatbot still exists, but as the less feature-rich counterpart to the new Gemini Advanced chatbot, which runs the Ultra model.

Gemini Advanced is "far more capable at reasoning, following instructions, coding, and creative collaboration" than the base Gemini chatbot version, said Pichai. "For example, it can be a personal tutor, tailored to your learning style. Or it can be a creative partner, helping you plan a content strategy or build a business plan."

Users will have to pay a $20 monthly fee to use Gemini Advanced. Besides getting access to the Ultra-powered chatbot, monthly subscribers will be able to use Gemini in other Google apps like Gmail and Docs, as well as have first dibs on new features like improved multimodal, coding and analysis capabilities.

While still in version 1.0, Gemini Ultra has already surpassed several key milestones, noted Pichai, saying that it's the "the first to outperform human experts on MMLU (massive multitask language understanding), which uses a combination of 57 subjects — including math, physics, history, law, medicine and ethics — to test knowledge and problem-solving abilities."

For more information, visit the Google blog.

About the Author

Gladys Rama (@GladysRama3) is the editorial director of Converge360.

Featured

  • Interconnected Light Particles in Vibrant Streams

    Rubrik Agent Cloud Expands Policy Controls for Agent Prompts/Responses

    Rubrik has made Rubrik Agent Cloud generally available, adding expanded governance controls that enforce predefined and custom policies on both AI agent prompts and responses.

  • Silhouettes of human faces in cyberspace

    Defending Against Data Breaches in the Age of Deepfakes

    As social-engineering attacks surpass ransomware as the top cyber risk, institutions must reevaluate their cybersecurity practices.

  • Abstract digital cloudscape of glowing interconnected clouds and radiant lines

    Cloud Complexity Outpacing Human Defenses, Report Warns

    According to the 2026 Cloud Security Report from Fortinet, while cloud security budgets are rising, 66% of organizations lack confidence in real-time threat detection across increasingly complex multi-cloud environments, with identity risks, tool sprawl, and fragmented visibility creating persistent operational gaps despite significant investment increases.

  • glowing brain above stacked coins

    The Higher Ed Playbook for AI Affordability

    Fulfilling the promise of AI in higher education does not require massive budgets or radical reinvention. By leveraging existing infrastructure, embracing edge and localized AI, collaborating across institutions, and embedding AI thoughtfully across the enterprise, universities can move from experimentation to impact.