Google is leveraging its successful strategy of packaging consumer apps with unique features to offer a tailored experience for businesses. This new venture is dubbed “Gemini,” previously known as “Bard.” The latest news suggests that Gemini will be a significant step forward, with descriptions for “Gemini Business” and “Gemini Enterprise” products surfacing in early patch notes by Dylan Roussei of 9to5Google and TestingCatalog.eth. These notes indicate that Google Workspace customers can expect to receive “enterprise-grade data protections” and access to Gemini settings in the Google Workspace Admin console, ensuring that their conversations are not used to train Gemini models.
Notably, Gemini seems to be a separate offering from the existing Google Workspace plans. While the standard Business plan is priced at $12 per user per month, Gemini may come with an additional fee. The “early patch notes” hint at new Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise plans, urging existing paying Google Workspace users to “upgrade today to Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise.” It’s also unclear how much of Google’s previously announced Duet AI plans will be integrated into Gemini. Duet AI, Google’s first attempt at AI for business, was expected to offer features like “help me write” buttons in Gmail and Docs for an extra $30 per user per month. However, after six months of delays, the service remains unavailable to businesses. It’s possible that Duet AI may be replaced or incorporated into the Gemini offerings.
The pricing structure of Gemini and its relation to Duet AI remains a critical question. Currently, Google is losing money on its AI products, as they require significant processing power and infrastructure. This raises concerns about how Google will price the Gemini Business and Enterprise plans, especially considering the ongoing challenges in scaling AI products. Ultimately, the success of Gemini will depend on its pricing, the value it offers to businesses, and its ability to deliver on its promises. As of now, the launch date of Gemini is slated for February 2024, though the specific date may not be entirely reliable.
