Google unveils $249 AI Ultra Plan
Google announced its plans to enhance user access to artificial intelligence during its annual I/O conference in Mountain View, California, amid increasing competition from startups like OpenAI. The tech giant revealed a new subscription service, the “AI Ultra Plan,” priced at $249.99 per month, aimed at power users seeking advanced AI capabilities. This comes as Google seeks to regain its footing after initially lagging behind competitors following the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022.
CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the company's commitment to making AI personal and proactive, with features that could assist users in various tasks, from making phone calls to generating practice tests. Google Search will now offer an “AI Mode,” allowing users to receive computer-generated answers for complex queries, moving away from traditional search results.
Pichai highlighted that Google's AI assistant, Gemini, has surpassed 400 million monthly active users. The new subscription plan includes benefits such as 30 terabytes of cloud storage and an ad-free YouTube experience, positioning it competitively against similar offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.
Despite the rise of generative AI, Pichai asserted that it does not diminish the value of online search, stating that the use cases for search are expanding due to AI advancements. Google also showcased new smart glasses featuring Android XR software, capable of real-time translation and contextual information about the user's surroundings.
Additionally, Google plans to launch an XR headset in collaboration with Samsung later this year and has partnered with eyewear designers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to create new headsets. Alphabet's shares closed down 1.5% at $165.32 following the announcements, reflecting investor sentiment amid the evolving landscape of AI technology.
