Google has finally launched the world’s most-awaited language model—Gemini—on December 6, 2023. Initially announced in May at the Google I/O conference, tech enthusiasts and AI experts have waited with bated breath to witness what Google calls its “most advanced model yet.” Touted as a capable competitor to GPT-4, Gemini has been in the news for quite some time, with numerous speculations about its capabilities. Google put all the rumors to rest with the launch of the massive language model, which is built to be multimodal right from the get-go. Training its eye on its biggest rival—OpenAI—Google is intent on making the mark with Gemini AI and has revealed a rather detailed roadmap for the language model’s deployment across its various platforms, experimental offerings, as well as handheld devices. While initial reports of a potential delay in Gemini’s launch were filtering just a few days before launch, the LLM witnessed a surprise launch, revealing Google’s most capable language model to the world.
While developers, amateurs, and enthusiasts frantically look to explore Gemini and its two of three variants that have been made available, Google has already announced the integration of the model with Bard, which has thus far used older yet capable models like LaMDA and PaLM 2. Bard will begin using Gemini Pro, a key variant of the vast language model, and will be embellished with intuitive capabilities that enhance conversations, analytics, contextual interpretations, coding, and interpretation of multimedia prompts. The upcoming sections explore Google’s flagship language model and the various implications it has for existing rivalries in the AI market, as well as the future of generative artificial intelligence at large.
Google Gemini’s Technical Attributes and the Hype around the Large Language Model
Gemini has been called the most advanced language model created by the Google thus far.
For long, Google has been locked into stiff competition with OpenAI, which is heavily backed and funded by Microsoft. Google’s initial launch of Bard was problematic from the start and invariably impacted the growth of the tech giant’s presence in the AI space. While Bard has been meticulously updated and has indeed caught on since, ChatGPT still remains the undisputed leader among chatbots. Seeking to challenge this monopoly, Google’s Gemini might work in the company’s favor while finally challenging advanced language models like GPT-4. Gemini has been a sought-after language model due to its impressive technical credentials. Google’s current flagship language model comes in three key variants:
1. Gemini Nano
This model is by far the most flexible and efficient among the lot. It is primarily designed to run on a variety of devices, with Google positioning it to be deployed on Pixel 8—the firm’s current front-running mobile phone. Gemini Nano is built for on-device tasks and will enhance Pixel 8’s functioning. Interestingly, Gemini Nano is split into two models, Nano 1 and Nano 2, with the former being leaner and based on 1.8 billion parameters and the latter, a tad bit extensive, with 3.25 billion parameters.
2. Gemini Pro
The Pro variant is the publicly available Gemini model, with Google Bard being integrated onto its framework. Google calls this variant the most scalable, fit for a wide variety of tasks. Gemini Pro has advanced reasoning, deciphering, and planning capabilities, making it the prime choice for creating AI-generated content. The variant is optimized for efficiency, and Google has not yet revealed the exact number of parameters in the model.
3. Gemini Ultra
By far the most advanced among the current variants, Gemini Ultra is still undergoing detailed AI safety and performance checks and is expected to be released in early 2024. The model will power Bard Advanced—the next stage in Google Bard’s journey—allowing users to access Google’s most cutting-edge LLMs and AI features. This roll-out will be limited to enterprise customers and developers; however, there’s no clarity on whether Gemini Ultra will be accessible to free users at the moment. Presently, the model has been offered to a select few customers to ensure robust interactions and quality checks before making it broadly available.
Gemini’s Significance: Will Google AI’s Trump Card Beat GPT-4?
The exact number of parameters in Gemini’s Pro and Ultra variants have not yet been revealed to the public.
Google’s white paper that details Gemini’s performance indicates that it performs either mildly or considerably better than arch-rival OpenAI’s chief LLM, GPT-4. The paper details numerous essential benchmarks used to ascertain the capabilities of large language models, and Gemini does seem to have an advantage. These results are significant since Google also has other competitors such as Anthropic’s Claude and Claude 2, which have been performing just as well, if not better. Additionally, Claude is also known to be more resilient to jailbreaks. While Gemini Pro will now be integrated into Bard, OpenAI, too, is looking at a broader release of its latest GPT-4 Turbo model, which is currently available to developers on a waitlist. The model might eventually be released to ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise subscribers. Interestingly, Gemini seems to have outperformed even humans on Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU), which is an extensive test that spans 57 subjects including medicine, law, math, physics, history, and more. Being the first model to do so, Gemini indicates great promise for both Google’s AI division in particular and artificial intelligence in general.
Most significantly, Gemini has been a combined effort spanning experts from Google DeepMind, Google Research, and the firm’s other technical divisions. Google has also announced that it intends to license Gemini through Google Cloud and Vertex AI. The firm’s blog indicates that it will further the usage and deployment of its LLM via the Gemini API to developers and Enterprise customers from December 13, 2023. The model’s proven ability to handle text, audio, video, and images makes it perfect for even experimental offerings from Google such as Search Generative Experience and NotebookLM, with the tech giant announcing Gemini’s integration with the former during the launch of the coveted LLM. With numerous capabilities under its belt, Gemini is set to be a clear contender against the best AI models in the world, both GPT-4 and beyond.
Google’s Generative AI Push in a Fast-Paced Market
Google Gemini might end up powering most of Google’s future AI-infused applications.
Generative artificial intelligence has become a game changer for tech firms across the world in a short span of a year. Google, which has been at the forefront of developing key technologies and internet tools, jumped into the AI foray in the mid-2000s by integrating machine learning protocols into its search engine. The company has been consistent with its investments in artificial intelligence and has worked with these technologies for nearly two decades now. However, it saw itself outmaneuvered when OpenAI’s ChatGPT witnessed global acclaim and rapid success. Regardless, Google managed to pull through despite the hiccups it faced and now stands in a position to challenge its competitors once more with the release of Gemini. Based on the company’s goals to help the global populace access responsible artificial intelligence, its push for AI in customer-facing applications will continue, leading to steady growth in models like Gemini and beyond.
FAQs
1. Is Google Gemini available in Bard?
Yes, Google Gemini’s Pro variant will be integrated with Bard, allowing the chatbot to access a better language model and enhance user experience.
2. When was Google Gemini released?
Google Gemini was released to the public on December 6, 2023, after initial reports of potential delays to the following year. However, Google has currently launched only its Gemini Nano and Gemini Pro models, with Gemini Ultra—the most advanced among the lot—slated for release in early 2024.
3. Is Google Gemini better than GPT-4?
While it is difficult to comment on the exact aspects of comparison between GPT-4 and Google Gemini, Google’s white paper does indicate that the LLM might be better positioned on key benchmarks when compared to its arch-rival’s main offering.