Google updates Gemini access tiers and subscription models

Google is restructuring access to its Gemini AI suite, impacting both free and paid users starting October 9. Free users will now be restricted to the Gemini Flash-Lite model, losing access to the Flash and Pro versions. Additionally, subscribers of the $4.99/month Google AI Plus plan will no longer have access to the Pro model, leaving the $19.99/month AI Pro subscription as the primary way to maintain high-tier capabilities. As a benefit for AI Pro subscribers, Google is introducing the 'Deep Think' feature, previously reserved for higher-tier users. These changes arrive amid internal reports of development delays and organizational shifts within Google’s AI division, including the delayed launch of the Gemini 3.5 Pro model. The move reflects a broader industry trend of tightening access to advanced AI features as companies look to monetize their generative AI investments more effectively.