Google Gemini app updates model access: Here are the new limitations

The Google Gemini app is free as of October 9th and is updating model access for AI Plus users. Here are the new model limitations.

Google is making an important update to the Gemini application. These changes specifically reorganize model access for free users and AI Plus subscribers.

This new regulation within the Google Gemini application has a structure that determines which models users can access. These updates will be valid as of October 9.

New limitations on model access

According to an updated support document published by Google, free users without any Google AI subscription will now only have access to the 3.5 Flash-Lite model. These users will not be able to use 3.6 Flash or 3.1 Pro models as of October 9.

There is a similar restriction for AI Plus subscribers. These users, who pay $4.99 per month, will now only have access to Flash-Lite and Flash models and will not be able to use the Pro model.

These subscribers will be sent a notification email explaining when the changes will take effect. There will be no regression in AI Pro and AI Ultra subscriptions.

AI Pro users who pay $19.99 per month will gain access to the Deep Think option, which was previously only available in the $99.99 and $199.99 plans. This feature helps complete complex tasks by providing maximum parallel thinking ability.

New effort levels and Gemini 4 Argon

New effort levels will be added to the Gemini app in October. Users will be able to choose one of three different levels for each model: low, medium and high.

These new levels will increase the model's capacity to complete tasks and enable more comprehensive answers to queries. However, the use of these options will cause consumption to exceed the user's limits.

Currently, users can only activate extended thinking and complex problem solving features. The new three different effort levels will be similar to the options available on Google AI Studio and Antigravity platforms.

It is not yet clear where the Gemini 4 Argon model will be positioned. Google announced that this model will be first offered to AI Ultra subscribers.

The company has not yet stated whether the Argon model will be classified as a Pro model or form a new layer on top of existing plans.