After switching to desktop-based usage in May, Google will introduce limits to what free Gemini users and AI Plus subscribers can access.
according to Updated support documentation This week, Gemini app users Without applying Google AI will be limited to Flash-Lite (3.5) format. Starting October 9th, users who have not paid for Gemini will no longer be able to access (3.6) Flash or (3.1) Pro.
Meanwhile, AI Plus Subscribers will be limited to Flash-Lite and Flash, with Pro no longer available. These $4.99 per month users will “receive an email explaining when these changes will take effect.”
| Gemini model | |||
| Google AI plans | Flash-Lite | Flash | pro |
| Without a plan | ✓ | X | X |
| AI Plus | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| AI Pro | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Ultra | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
There are no regressions for AI Pro And AI Ultra. Instead, $19.99/month customers will get access to the Deep Think option for “Maximum Parallel Reasoning” that is currently only available on the $99.99 and $199.99/month plans.
Gemini 3.1 Pro with Deep Think in AI Ultra
In October, the Gemini app also appears to be adding new “low,” “medium” and “high” effort levels “for each available model.”
This will increase the model’s ability to complete tasks and provide more detailed answers to queries, but will also use more of your limits.
At this time, you can only activate “Extended Thinking: Solving Complex Problems.” The three levels of effort/innovation will match what’s available in Google AI Studio and Antigravity.
It is unclear where Gemini 4 Argon will fit. Google announced earlier this week that it was the first to subscribe to AI Ultra. The company has not yet specified whether the Argon will be classified as a Pro model or as part of a new tier above it.
