Starting today (October 9), Google is formally restricting access to Gemini models. Free users will be limited to the weakest model, Flash-Lite; the Flash and Pro models they could previously choose from are being withdrawn.
Key changes: the free tier goes from a choice of three models to Flash-Lite only; the $4.99-per-month AI Plus keeps Flash-Lite and Flash but loses Pro (rolled out account by account, with Google notifying each user by email of when it takes effect); the $19.99-per-month AI Pro keeps all three models and gains the "Deep Think" reasoning mode, previously reserved for the top tier.
A detail worth noting: the change came with no launch event and was quietly written into the support documentation. Over two years, Google first got everyone used to "Gemini = free and good", then pulled back the good part in one stroke. The era of the free AI lunch is officially over.
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