Google has recently introduced its Gemini AI model, and for those eager to give it a try without any cost, there’s the Gemini Pro version accessible within the Bard chatbot. Pixel 8 Pro users can also leverage a variant of Gemini for AI-suggested text replies on WhatsApp, with future integration planned for Gboard. Currently, only a text-based version of Gemini is incorporated into Bard, and upcoming releases are anticipated to encompass multimodal capabilities, enabling chatbots to process diverse inputs and generate outputs in various formats.
While Gemini is currently only offered in English, Google has intentions to extend language support shortly. However, akin to previous generative AI updates, Gemini is not yet available in the European Union. Despite its premium moniker, the Gemini Pro update for Bard is free to use. In contrast, ChatGPT provides access to older AI models for free, but a monthly subscription is required for the latest model, GPT-4, priced at $20 with ChatGPT Plus.
To access Gemini Pro, users with a Google account can visit the Bard website through their browser and log in. Creating a Google account is a prerequisite for accessing Bard. Google Workspace account users may need to switch to their personal email accounts to experiment with Gemini.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that this is currently an experimental phase, and users may encounter software glitches in their chatbot interactions. Bard’s strength lies in its integration with other Google services, though some aspects may still need refinement. For example, tagging @Gmail prompts the chatbot to summarize daily messages, while tagging @YouTube allows the exploration of topics with videos. Despite promising integrations, there are ongoing improvements to be made, as revealed in previous tests of the Bard chatbot.
Looking ahead, Google teases the arrival of Gemini Ultra in 2024, representing its most capable mode designed to handle complex tasks across text, images, audio, video, and code. The smaller smartphone-friendly variant, Gemini Nano, is already accessible on Pixel 8 Pro for WhatsApp replies. As users explore Gemini Pro within Bard, it’s essential to keep in mind common chatbot behaviours, including the potential for misinformation.