Google has significantly expanded its AI subscription offerings with a new top-tier plan that comes with an eye-watering price tag but promises exclusive access to the company's most advanced AI models and features. The announcement came during Google's recent I/O conference, marking a strategic move to monetize its cutting-edge AI technologies.
Google's New Premium AI Tier
Google has introduced its most expensive subscription service to date, the AI Ultra plan, priced at USD $249.99 per month. This premium offering sits alongside the existing AI Pro plan (formerly known as AI Premium), which remains available at USD $19.99 monthly. The Ultra tier represents a significant price jump, costing more than twelve times the Pro subscription. To soften the initial financial impact, Google is offering new subscribers 50% off for the first three months, though the service is currently limited to US customers only.
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| Google introduces the AI Ultra plan at $24999/month, alongside the AI Pro plan at $1999/month |
Comprehensive Feature Set
The AI Ultra subscription delivers access to Google's most powerful AI models with the highest rate limits. Subscribers will receive early access to experimental AI products before they become available to other users. The plan includes Gemini Ultra, Google's most advanced large language model, along with the new Veo 3 video generation model that can create not just video content but also accompanying sounds like city ambience, rustling leaves, and even character dialogue—all from simple text prompts.
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| Explore the advanced capabilities of the Gemini AI models included in the AI Ultra subscription |
Storage and Additional Benefits
Beyond AI capabilities, the Ultra plan includes a generous 30TB of Google cloud storage across services like Gmail, Photos, and Drive. In a move that adds significant value, Google has also bundled a YouTube Premium individual subscription with the Ultra tier, making it the only Google One plan that includes ad-free YouTube and YouTube Music access. This comprehensive package appears designed to justify the substantial monthly investment by combining multiple premium services.
AI Pro Plan Rebranding and Updates
The previously named AI Premium plan has been rebranded as AI Pro, maintaining its USD $19.99 monthly price point. While it doesn't offer the full capabilities of the Ultra tier, Pro subscribers will now have access to a limited version of Flow with Veo 2, as well as Gemini integration in Chrome. This represents an enhancement to the existing plan without a price increase.
New AI Features and Tools
Google announced several new AI tools at I/O that will be available at different tiers. Imagen 4, the latest version of Google's AI image generator, is available to all Gemini users in the app starting immediately. The company also introduced Deep Research, which allows users to add their own sources like private PDFs and images to enhance AI interactions.
Gemini in Chrome
Starting tomorrow, Gemini will be available in Chrome on desktop for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the United States who use English as their Chrome language on Windows and macOS. The initial version will allow users to ask Gemini to clarify complex information on websites or summarize content. Future updates will enable Gemini to work across multiple tabs and even navigate websites on behalf of users, potentially transforming how people interact with web content.
Market Positioning
With the introduction of the AI Ultra plan, Google appears to be targeting professional users and businesses who require advanced AI capabilities and are willing to pay a premium price. The substantial monthly cost suggests Google is confident in the value proposition of its most advanced AI technologies, positioning them as professional tools rather than casual consumer products. This tiered approach allows Google to monetize its AI research and development while maintaining accessibility through more affordable options for general users.