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Google to End Gemini Pro AI, Flash AI Models for Free Users from Oct 9

JasonMJasonM Member
edited October 3 in General

That's sad!

Just when I logged in there was a notification that my Gemini Pro AI model will be downgraded to Flash-lite and Deep Research revoked from October 9. (for all Gemini free users worldwide)

Then i asked Gemini itself about the reason.. than it pointed to rising cost of GPU and RAM to process queries for free users worldwide.

So from 9th October either I have to pay for Pro AI or just use Flash-Lite. Not even Flash.

Additionally, the Deep Research option will also not be available anymore for free users.

What are best free alternatives to Pro AI models (or equivalent). DeepSeek? Sonnet?

«13

Comments

  • JohnFilch123JohnFilch123 Member
    edited October 3

    I do not follow. The downgrade will be for all user or just for free users? I have got Pro and did not get any notifications, so I guess this is only for free users.

  • rpqurpqu Member

    Just pay. If not, use openrouter's

    Thanked by 2JasonM buggedout
  • @rpqu said: Just pay

    ok boss.

  • JasonMJasonM Member

    @JohnFilch123 said: free users

    free users.

  • @JasonM said:

    @JohnFilch123 said: free users

    free users.

    Ah, this is expected then.

  • yoursunnyyoursunny Member, IPv6 Advocate

    If you notice our comments become less witty after Oct 09, you know the reason.

  • JasonMJasonM Member

    @rpqu said: openrouter's

    thanks.

  • @JasonM said: Flash-Lite

    This is the same model available in Google Search AI-mode without login?

  • JasonMJasonM Member

    @harrison said: This is the same model available in Google Search AI-mode without login?

    I think yes. comparing the results in Google AIO/AI mode and flash-lite which is their most basic and quickest model which uses less tokens for billions of queries that user type-in on google-search bar.

    I think google is under pressure of using GPU and RAM for all those billions or trillions of queries that they send to AI to process (un-necessarily).

    Thanked by 1harrison
  • i notice i have sonnet/opus 5.5 now in agy.

  • RurikoRuriko Veteran

    I don't use it cause their API is even more filtered than their chat version. I'm always triggering their prohibited words when I'm not even using any naughty words and it works fine on their chat but not API

    Thanked by 1forest
  • I have PRO and I didn't get any notification.

  • moscowmoscow Member
    edited October 3

    just buy the Jio link for 40 cents, which gives you an 18-month subscription to google ai pro. (I know that it is bannable)

  • PuDLeZPuDLeZ Member

    Here's the link to the official support answer
    https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/17004136

    Thanked by 2rpqu lovelyserver
  • @yoursunny said:
    If you notice our comments become less witty after Oct 09, you know the reason.

    "Us" and "our" now makes much more sense when you refer to yourself now.

  • @vasuvasu said:
    I have PRO and I didn't get any notification.

    You can always read a thread topic before clicking into a thread. Sometimes, you don't even need to read the OP to know what it's about.

  • NeoonNeoon Community Contributor, Veteran

    Basically you get a 8B model, you can also run on your hardware.
    The only difference is, google isn't getting your data.

    ChatGPT does the same, with their internal routing, you might suddenly speak to a 8B model or the fat one.
    Except maybe you pay $$$$ on the API.

  • FourplexFourplex Member, Patron Provider

    Quite frankly, the RAM shortage is also bad for Big Tech, the companies causing it.

    If you want AI for all, you need AI efficient enough to not need a bazillion datacenters. China is doing it, and OpenAI/Anthropic/Google needs to follow suit.

    Thanked by 1JasonM
  • rpqurpqu Member

    @Fourplex said:
    Quite frankly, the RAM shortage is also bad for Big Tech, the companies causing it.

    If you want AI for all, you need AI efficient enough to not need a bazillion datacenters. China is doing it, and OpenAI/Anthropic/Google needs to follow suit.

    That's correct. They purchased capacity in excess, financed by debts and risk absorbed by everyone's pension
    This is what China zombie AI datacenters did from 2022-2025

    Thanked by 2JasonM Fourplex
  • MikeAMikeA Patron Provider, Veteran

    Not surprised. I use Gemini for all of the basic dumb shit that I don't want to put towards my Claude sub usage.

  • @MikeA said:
    Not surprised. I use Gemini for all of the basic dumb shit that I don't want to put towards my Claude sub usage.

    There also Duck.ai to abus when we reach limit bro.

  • LeviLevi Veteran
    edited October 4

    This may set precedent for other sota’s to remove free access alltogether. Cgpt have dirt cheap (8€/mo) plans to feed the poor. And almost all people on earth have tried one or another variant of llm and got hoocked. LLMoin is soooo good! You can snort, smoke, eat, drink, patch, put into anus or just plainly inject it.

    Thanked by 1JasonM
  • TimboJonesTimboJones Member
    edited October 4

    @Fourplex said:
    Quite frankly, the RAM shortage is also bad for Big Tech, the companies causing it.

    The really large players are somewhat ok with high intro costs, this knocks out much competition. They can acquire talented startups for cheap instead of competing with them. The issue is one big player has a large advantage over the other big players, that's their worry.

    If you want AI for all, you need AI efficient enough to not need a bazillion datacenters. China is doing it, and OpenAI/Anthropic/Google needs to follow suit.

    What do you mean? China can and is building more datacenters than in the US. They just push through permits and whatnot and have many poor areas. There's no NIMBY, no billion dollar community funds, no lawsuits dragging things on, etc. They're probably hoarding the much needed transformers for their own datacenters and giving 3+ year lead times to the Americans.

    China has a large advantage due to investing heavily in renewables. Meanwhile, Trump kneecaps the US by subsidizing coal instead of renewables and gave an advantage to the Chinese. He'd rather pick fights with energy suppliers like Canada and fuck around in Venezuela. He's truly not looking out for Americans, at all.

    Thanked by 2mrTom Fourplex
  • @moscow said:
    just buy the Jio link for 40 cents, which gives you an 18-month subscription to google ai pro. (I know that it is bannable)

    I also have the ai PRO same way, and I am using it for last six months or so.

  • Shit. I use Google AI studio ALOT.

  • forestforest Member

    Wow, AI prices go up after people get hooked and become helplessly dependent?

    nelson

    Thanked by 3Murv Fourplex jsg
  • AI ate the whole datacenter and somehow we got the bill.

    Thanked by 1Fourplex
  • AndreixAndreix Host Rep, Veteran

    Meh… It’s shit anyway…

    Thanked by 1jsg
  • Hooray less vibe coded panels.

  • dosaidosai Veteran

    @yoursunny said:
    If you notice our comments become less witty after Oct 09, you know the reason.

    Now I understand why you always said "we".

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