9to5google.com Google Gemini Limits Free Access to AI Models Starting October 9
Article Content
- •Free users will be limited to the 3.5 Flash-Lite model starting October 9.
- •Paid subscriptions unlock access to more advanced models with higher usage limits.
- •Users can choose effort levels for queries, impacting model performance and limits.
Google announced that starting October 9, users without a paid AI subscription will be limited to the 3.5 Flash-Lite model of its Gemini AI. Previously, free users had access to the 3.6 Flash and 3.1 Pro models. The new restrictions come as part of an overhaul of Google’s AI plans, which has been implemented twice in 2026. Paid subscriptions include the AI Plus plan at $4.99 per month for the Flash model and the AI Pro plan at $19.99 per month for the Pro model. Additionally, students can access the AI Pro plan for free for one year. Users will also soon be able to select effort levels for their queries, which will affect the model's performance and usage limits. The changes are attributed to rising costs in storage and components affecting Google’s AI infrastructure.
Ask AI about this cluster
Answers cite the sources they use
Timeline
More articles in this cluster (4)
Common questions
What models will free users have access to?
What are the costs for the paid plans?
Are there any benefits for students?
Continue Reading
CVE-2015-3306 Exploited in ProFTPD FTP Servers CVE-2015-3306, a vulnerability in ProFTPD 1.3.5, allows remote attackers to read and write arbitrary files using the SITE CPFR and SITE CPTO commands. This exploit can lead to unauthorized access and potential remote code execution, as the commands are executed with the privileges of the ProFTPD service. Active… 
CISA Mandates Urgent Patching of Five Critical Flaws Exploited by Flax Typhoon The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has ordered federal agencies to patch five critical vulnerabilities by October 11, 2026, following exploitation by the China-linked hacking group Flax Typhoon. The vulnerabilities, added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, include…