Free Gemini users lose the model picker; AI Plus loses Pro

Google began changing the Gemini app's free plan on October 9, 9to5Google reported that evening.

What changed

Free users "without a plan" can no longer pick a model. The only picker option is Auto. 9to5Google quotes Google: "Most prompts will go to Flash-Lite, our fastest model. Prompts that need deeper reasoning may go to Flash or Pro." With smart model selection turned off, free accounts use Flash-Lite for everything. Google's support page had described the free plan as Flash-Lite only the week before, so the wording moved during the rollout.

Effort levels, Low, Medium, and High, replace the old Extended option and are rolling out to subscribers. The Next Web quotes Google's help page saying a higher level "will also use more of your limit."

By plan

From the two reports:

• Free: Auto, mostly Flash-Lite
• AI Plus ($4.99/month in the US): Flash-Lite and Flash, losing Pro. 9to5Google says this applies "soon," and Google says it will email affected subscribers.
• AI Pro ($19.99): keeps all three models and, per The Next Web citing 9to5Google, gains Deep Think
• AI Ultra ($99.99 or $199.99): keeps all three

Prices are as reported by 9to5Google via The Next Web, not checked on Google's plan page for this draft.

Should you switch

If you used free Gemini for Pro-level answers, that is now up to the router. If you are on AI Plus for Pro access, check your email for the date it ends, then compare AI Pro's price against what you actually use.