Google Unveils AI Ultra Plan at I/O Conference for $249.99 Monthly

Google unveiled a suite of new AI tools and upgrades at its annual I/O conference, showcasing its commitment to advancing artificial intelligence technology. The event highlighted several key innovations, including the introduction of the Google AI Ultra plan, new AI models for video and image generation, and enhancements to existing AI tools.

The Google AI Ultra plan, priced at $249.99 per month, offers the highest level of access to Google's AI applications and services. This subscription includes the new Veo 3 video generator, the Flow movie-making app, and the powerful Gemini 2.5 Pro Deep Think model, which is yet to be launched. Additional features of the AI Ultra plan include increased limits on the NotebookLM and Whisk platforms, access to the Gemini chatbot in Chrome, agent tools based on Project Mariner technology, YouTube Premium, and 30 TB of storage on Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail. One of the standout agent tools is Agent Mode, which can browse the web, conduct research, and integrate with Google apps to perform specific tasks. The AI Ultra subscription is currently available only in the U.S.

Veo 3, a new AI model for generating video and sound, was a significant announcement. This model allows users to create videos with sound effects, noise, and dialogues, marking a departure from the silent era of video creation. Veo 3 is available in the Gemini app for Google AI Ultra plan subscribers and is expected to be a game-changer in the field of video generation. Improvements to Veo 2 were also announced, including the ability to provide images of characters, scenes, objects, and styles to improve consistency, understand camera movements, add or remove objects from a clip, and expand the frames of clips. These new features will be available on the Vertex AI platform.

Imagen 4, Google's latest AI model for image generation, was also introduced. This model can visualize fine details such as fabrics, water droplets, and animal fur, and work with photorealistic and abstract styles. Imagen 4 delivers higher quality results than its predecessor, Imagen 3, and can create illustrations with different aspect ratios and resolutions up to 2K. The tool is available in the Gemini app, Google Whisk, Vertex AI platforms, and various Google Workspace products, making it a versatile addition to Google's AI suite.

Flow, a new AI model for movie creation, integrates three tools: Veo for video creation, Imagen for image generation, and Gemini for working with text and prompts. Flow allows users to import characters or scenes or create these elements within the tool, offering camera control functions, a scene builder, and asset management capabilities. Additionally, Google launched Flow TV, a feed of video clips and content with the exact prompts used to create them, providing insights into the creative process of the authors.

Google's foray into the smartglasses market was another highlight of the conference. The company announced a partnership with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create a gadget based on Android XR, a platform launched jointly with Qualcomm and Samsung. The smartglasses, equipped with a camera, microphone, speakers, and a display for viewing notifications, will feature Gemini artificial intelligence. Google plans to commit up to $150 million to co-develop AI glasses with Warby Parker, with $75 million already allocated.

Gemini integration into Chrome was also announced, providing users with an AI assistant to work in the browser. This assistant can understand the context of the page and perform various tasks, accessible via text input and voice command. Future updates will allow Gemini to work with multiple tabs simultaneously, enabling users to compare products from different pages or online stores. Additionally, Google Meet now features real-time speech translation, using a large language audio model from DeepMind to provide natural conversations in different languages. The translation preserves voice, intonation, and facial expressions, with minimal delay, allowing for seamless communication.

Several updates to the Gemini chatbot were announced, including wider availability of multimodal capabilities, updated AI models, and the ability to transfer video from a camera or smartphone screen while having verbal conversations in parallel. Users can also navigate through Google Maps, create events in Google Calendar, and manage to-do lists in Google Tasks. Google also updated Deep Research, a tool for generating detailed research reports, which can match uploaded PDFs and images with publicly available information to provide personalized insights. Future integrations with Drive and Gmail are planned.

Project Mariner, an experimental AI agent for web browsing, was opened to U.S. users with a Google AI Ultra subscription. The assistant can perform up to 10 tasks simultaneously, such as buying tickets to a baseball game or groceries online, allowing users to go about their business while the assistant completes tasks in the background. Other solutions introduced include Gemma 3n, an AI model for a smooth experience on phones, laptops, and tablets, capable of interacting with audio, text, images, and video. Stitch, a tool to assist in frontend development of web and mobile apps, was also announced, along with new features in Google Search AI for online shoppers, including a visual dashboard, personalized price notifications, and virtual fitting. SynthID Detector, able to determine if an image, video, audio, or piece of text was created using Google's AI models, and improved Deep Think reasoning mode for the flagship Gemini 2.5 Pro model were also highlighted. New AI features in Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Vids were introduced to clean up messages, compose personalized emails, or create and edit content.