Gemini app limiting what models free & AI Plus users can access, AI Pro adding Deep Think

Google will soon introduce limits on which Gemini models free users and AI Plus subscribers can access. Starting October 9, users without a Google AI subscription will be limited to the (3.5) Flash-Lite model, losing access to (3.6) Flash and (3.1) Pro. AI Plus subscribers at $4.99 per month will be limited to Flash-Lite and Flash, with Pro no longer available. They will receive an email explaining the changes.

No regressions for AI Pro ($19.99/month) and AI Ultra users, who will gain access to the Deep Think option for "maximum parallel reasoning" previously exclusive to $99.99 and $199.99 plans. The Gemini app will also add "low," "medium," and "high" effort levels for each model in October, increasing task completion ability but using more limits.

Google announced Gemini 4 Argon as its new frontier model, first coming to AI Ultra subscribers, though classification details remain unclear.

Google is introducing new limits on Gemini model access starting October 9. Free users will be restricted to the Flash-Lite model, losing access to Flash and Pro. AI Plus subscribers ($4.99/month) will also be limited to Flash-Lite and Flash, with Pro becoming unavailable. These users will receive an email explaining the changes.

There are no regressions for AI Pro ($19.99/month) and AI Ultra subscribers. Instead, AI Pro users will gain access to the Deep Think option for maximum parallel reasoning, previously exclusive to the higher-tier plans. In October, the Gemini app will also add new 'low,' 'medium,' and 'high' effort levels for each available model, matching the options in Google AI Studio and Antigravity.

This will increase task completion ability and answer thoroughness but will consume more of the user's limit. The upcoming Gemini 4 Argon model, announced as the new frontier model, is first coming to AI Ultra subscribers, with Google yet to specify its classification.