Google has announced the release of its new AI model, Gemini 2.0. This marks a milestone in what the company calls the “agentic era” of AI.
CEO Sundar Pichai described the launch as the next major step in Google’s mission to “organize the world’s information and make it accessible and useful.”
What does it do?
Gemini 2.0 is more “agent”. It’s more of a proactive decision-making assistant than a chatbot. It can execute code and interact with third-party applications. It can perform actions such as launching searches, making appointments or browsing a website.
One of the key features is “Deep Search,” a feature in Gemini Advanced that allows users to delegate research tasks to AI. It can analyze complex topics, compile detailed reports, and return a summary to users.
Its other improvements over Gemini 1.0 include faster performance, the ability to create images and generate text-to-speech audio responses, and an expanded pop-up window, allowing it to handle larger conversations.
Availability
Gemini 2.0 is being rolled out in stages. Developers can access the model through the Gemini API through Google AI Studio and Vertex AI.
For everyday users, Gemini 2.0 will soon be available through Google’s AI assistive products, including the Gemini app. This release will provide users with a “chat-optimized” experience that incorporates the advanced reasoning and planning capabilities of Gemini 2.0.
Market reaction
The announcement of Gemini 2.0 sent shares of Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) to an all-time high. It is up 12.18% over the past five days and 39.76% year to date.
The rally follows an already strong week for Alphabet, which saw its stock rise 11% after the company unveiled a new quantum computing chip called “Willow.”
