Google Retires Bard Chatbot, Launches Gemini AI App
Google replaces its year-old Bard chatbot with Gemini, a new AI app available on Android and the web. The release intensifies the ongoing rivalry between Google and Microsoft in the artificial intelligence sector.
Google replaces its Bard chatbot with a new artificial intelligence app called Gemini, marking a major shift in the company's AI strategy. Named after an AI project unveiled late last year, Gemini represents Google's most capable family of models and immediately retires the Bard brand that launched just a year ago to compete with ChatGPT.
The tech giant releases a standalone Gemini app for Android smartphones and the web, while also embedding its features into the existing Google search app for iPhones. This move escalates the battle between Google and Microsoft for dominance in the AI market, as both companies push tools that help users write, debug code, and prepare for job interviews.
Google offers a free version of Gemini alongside a premium model that costs $20 per month and includes a two-month free trial. The company states that this sophisticated AI acts as a tutor for students, provides programming tips for engineers, and helps users brainstorm and create content, though the older Google voice assistant remains available for now.