According to a leaked changelog, Google plans to roll out major updates to its AI assistant Bard as early as next week. Reportedly, Bard will be rebranded as “Gemini” for simplicity, aligning with Google’s new multi-modal AI model unveiled in late 2022.
The document, shared by Android developer Dylan Roussel, is dated for February 7th. It states a paid “Gemini Advanced” tier will launch, granting access to the more powerful “Ultra 1.0” iteration of Gemini. This premium version promises greatly enhanced capabilities for complex tasks like coding, logical reasoning, detailed instructions, and creative collaboration.
Initially, Gemini Advanced will cover over 150 countries, focusing on English language optimization. The changelog also notes Gemini itself will expand into Canada with the refresh.
Additionally, an Android Gemini app is said to be “coming soon” as the assistant adopts its new name and feature set.
The reported rebranding makes practical sense. By labelling both the underlying AI technology and its front-facing assistant manifestation as “Gemini,” Google streamlines brand identity. This avoids bifurcation like what occurred with BERT and Bard.
Of course, the contents of this leaked document remain unconfirmed publicly for now. But with Google gearing up for its annual I/O developer conference in May, refreshing Bard with Gemini integration would likely take the stage there.
If the details prove accurate, Gemini Advanced signals Google’s intent to be highly competitive in the AI assistant space. With research rivals like Anthropic, apps like Claude pressure them to rapidly iterate. Next week may indicate if they aim to consolidate past work or further splinter branding and products.
