Google has officially rebranded Gemini Extensions as “Apps” while also integrating them with Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, an advanced AI reasoning model aimed at improving performance and response accuracy. Although the core functionality remains unchanged, this update reflects Google’s ongoing efforts to streamline its AI ecosystem.

Additionally, Google Sheets is receiving an update that introduces a more efficient table formatting menu, making data organization easier for users. This article explores these changes and their implications for Gemini users.

What’s Changing in Google Gemini?

Google has made two key updates to its Gemini AI platform, affecting extensions and performance capabilities.

1. Extensions Are Now Called “Apps”

• The Extensions menu in Gemini has been renamed to Apps across Android, iOS, and web versions.
• The change does not affect the core functionality, meaning users can still access Gmail, Docs, Sheets, WhatsApp, Spotify, and other integrated services.
• Google updated its support pages and documentation to reflect this change.

2. Powered by Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking

• The new AI reasoning model, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, enhances performance for Gemini Apps.
• Users can expect faster response times, improved context understanding, and enhanced task execution capabilities.
• The update is available for both free and Gemini Advanced users.

3. Google Sheets Gets a Table Formatting Upgrade

• A new formatting submenu in Google Sheets allows users to quickly access options like gridlines, alternating colors, condensed views, and footers.
• This feature reduces the number of steps required for formatting, improving efficiency for data organization.

Why Did Google Rename Gemini Extensions?

Google frequently rebrands and restructures its products to create a more cohesive user experience. The decision to rename Extensions to Apps aligns with this approach and serves multiple purposes:

• Simplifies AI integration by making Gemini’s capabilities feel more like built-in apps rather than add-ons.
• Encourages wider adoption by using a familiar term that resonates with users.
• Eliminates confusion with browser-based extensions, ensuring users understand that these are AI-powered tools within Gemini.

This change follows previous rebranding efforts, such as renaming Bard to Gemini, reflecting Google’s broader strategy to streamline AI offerings.

How These Updates Benefit Users

Faster and Smarter AI Assistance

• Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking enhances response speed and reasoning accuracy, leading to more precise answers and context-aware suggestions.

Seamless App Integration

• Gemini Apps allow users to retrieve emails, generate documents, summarize messages, and interact with third-party services more efficiently.

Improved Productivity in Google Workspace

• The Google Sheets table formatting update simplifies workflow by reducing the steps required for data organization.

Google’s AI Strategy: What’s Next?

As Google continues refining Gemini AI, several potential developments could follow:

• Expanded third-party integrations beyond WhatsApp and Spotify.
• Deeper automation in Google Workspace Apps for enhanced task management.
• Further AI-driven refinements to improve personalization and efficiency.

Given Google’s history of rebrands and iterative updates, additional enhancements are expected in the coming months.

Final Thoughts

The renaming of Gemini Extensions to Apps might seem like a minor change, but it reflects Google’s larger goal of seamlessly integrating AI into everyday workflows. With the addition of Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, users can expect better performance, faster responses, and more intuitive AI interactions.

For those using Google Sheets, the new table formatting update further enhances productivity, demonstrating Google’s commitment to improving its ecosystem for both casual users and professionals.

With these updates, Google is positioning Gemini AI as an essential productivity tool, making it a more powerful competitor in the AI-driven assistant space.

Also Read: Google’s Find My Device App Gets a Major Redesign: New ‘People’ Tab, Live Location, and More

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Google has recently teased significant updates for its Gemini Advanced subscription, revealing what’s coming in the next few months. These updates aim to improve AI capabilities, content generation, and productivity tools for users.

Let’s explore what’s new in Gemini Advanced and how these changes will impact users.

What Is Gemini Advanced?

Gemini Advanced is Google’s premium AI service, available for $19.99 per month under the Google AI Premium Plan. It provides access to cutting-edge AI models, enabling advanced reasoning, coding, and content generation.

Google’s latest newsletter to Gemini Advanced subscribers hints at a series of powerful updates that will enhance user experience across different domains.

Upcoming Features and Enhancements

1. New AI Models: Improved Accuracy & Transparency

Google is rolling out two experimental AI models to enhance reasoning, accuracy, and transparency:

• Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental: This model is optimized for handling complex tasks with improved factual accuracy, making it ideal for coding, mathematical problem-solving, and research-based queries.
• Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking: Unlike traditional models, Flash Thinking will display its reasoning process in real time, allowing users to trace AI-generated responses step by step.

These advancements are designed to improve reliability and make AI more transparent and accountable.

2. Expanded AI-Generated Content: Video, Image, and Audio

Google has confirmed that Gemini Advanced users will soon have access to enhanced video, image, and audio generation tools.

• Imagen 3: Google’s advanced image-generation model, capable of creating hyper-realistic visuals, will see further refinements.
• Veo 2: A high-quality AI video generation tool, currently in testing under Google Labs, may become widely available for Gemini Advanced subscribers.
• MusicLM and Lyria: These AI tools specialize in music and audio generation, potentially allowing users to create original music compositions and soundtracks.

With these expanded creative tools, users will have more flexibility in multimedia content creation, making Gemini a serious competitor to platforms like OpenAI’s DALL·E and Midjourney.

3. AI Agent Tools: Automating Tasks Like Never Before

One of the most exciting updates involves agentic AI tools that will take action on behalf of users to automate workflows.

• Project Mariner: Expected to integrate with Google Workspace, this AI-powered assistant will help users organize email attachments, generate Google Sheets, and analyze data with AI-powered insights.
• Automated AI Assistants: Gemini Advanced will be able to autonomously complete routine tasks, freeing up users’ time and increasing productivity.

These AI agents could revolutionize office work, helping professionals manage tasks seamlessly across Google’s ecosystem.

4. Advanced AI Models for Complex Projects

Google has also hinted at continuous improvements to Gemini’s core models, providing:

• Faster processing speeds
• Greater contextual understanding
• More efficient multitasking capabilities

As part of this evolution, Gemini 2.0 Pro will eventually become the default model for Advanced subscribers, bringing more power and accuracy to everyday AI interactions.

What This Means for Gemini Users

With these updates, Google is positioning Gemini as a top-tier AI platform, competing directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, Anthropic’s Claude, and Meta’s AI models.

For content creators, business professionals, and developers, Gemini Advanced will offer:
✅ More powerful AI reasoning and fact-checking
✅ Expanded creative tools for video, image, and music generation
✅ Smarter automation for office productivity
✅ Faster and more transparent AI responses

These features make Gemini Advanced a must-have for users who want cutting-edge AI capabilities.

Conclusion: Is Gemini Advanced Worth It?

With the latest updates, Google is pushing AI boundaries by expanding Gemini’s capabilities in creativity, productivity, and automation. The upcoming features could make Gemini Advanced one of the most comprehensive AI subscriptions available.

For those already subscribed, this is an exciting glimpse into the future of Google’s AI ecosystem. For those considering it, these powerful upgrades might make Gemini Advanced worth the investment.

💡 Would you subscribe to Gemini Advanced for these new features? Let us know in the comments! 🚀

Also Read: Google Search Testing Background Section

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FAQs

1. What is Gemini Advanced?

Gemini Advanced is Google’s premium AI subscription that offers access to its most powerful AI models, including Gemini 2.0 Pro and Flash Thinking. It costs $19.99/month under the Google AI Premium Plan.

2. What’s new in Gemini Advanced?

Some major updates include:
✅ Longer, more detailed AI responses
✅ New AI-generated video, image, and music tools
✅ AI-powered workflow automation
✅ Enhanced transparency with Flash Thinking AI

3. How does Gemini Advanced compare to ChatGPT-4?

Gemini Advanced focuses on real-time AI reasoning, agentic automation, and expanded multimedia generation, making it a strong competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4.

4. When will these new features roll out?

Google has teased that the updates will roll out over the next few months, though some features, like Veo 2 and MusicLM, are still in limited beta testing.

5. Where can I subscribe to Gemini Advanced?

You can subscribe via the Google One Premium AI Plan for $19.99/month through the Google Gemini app.