Gemini AI explained: models, pricing, and the best ways to use it

TL;DR:

Gemini comes in 1.5 and 2.0 families with huge context windows.
Gemini is now baked into Chrome with smarter, task-level features.
Paid plans unlock advanced models like 2.5 Pro and Deep Research.
Use 1.5 Pro for long docs, 2.0 Flash for fast multimodal tasks.
Students in India can get a 1-year Pro plan free until 6 Oct 2025.

Gemini is Google’s family of multimodal AI models. It handles text, code, images, audio, and video in one system. Current public options include Gemini 1.5 Pro with a context window up to 2 million tokens, and Gemini 2.0 Flash, a faster model for agentic tasks with 1 million tokens.

In August 2025, Google upgraded Gemini Live to be more expressive, visual, and better linked with Google apps like Gmail and Calendar.

What’s new right now

On 18–19 September 2025, Google began integrating Gemini directly into Chrome on desktop in the U.S., bringing a chatbot button, page summarization, research helpers, and groundwork for agentic features. Mobile integration is rolling out next.

Model guide at a glance

Use case	Best pick	Why
Long documents, research, analysis	Gemini 1.5 Pro	2M-token context, accurate retrieval across long inputs.
Fast tasks, tool use, multimodal output	Gemini 2.0 Flash	Built-in tool use, speedy responses, 1M tokens, multimodal output.
Real-time, voice-and-video interactions	Multimodal Live API	Low-latency, bidirectional streaming for apps.

Pricing and plans

Google offers a paid plan that unlocks advanced models such as Gemini 2.5 Pro with bigger limits and features. In India, media and Google pages cite monthly pricing around ₹1,950, and Google describes Pro benefits like Deep Research. Names vary by region, but the Pro tier unlocks the top models and features.

For students in India, Google is offering one year free on a Pro plan until 6 October 2025.

What Gemini can do well

Research and summarize: Load large PDFs or transcripts and ask pointed questions. Use 1.5 Pro to keep sources in memory.
Code and debug: 2.5 Pro and 2.0 Flash improve coding speed. Use Live for quick iterations.
Content drafts: Brainstorm outlines, then ask Gemini to rewrite in your voice.
Meetings and email: With Chrome integration and Workspace add-ons, get summaries and drafts in place.

Common mistakes to avoid

Ignoring model fit. Use 1.5 Pro for long context and 2.0 Flash for fast, tool-heavy tasks.
No guardrails. For factual work, ask Gemini to list cited sources or to show step-by-step reasoning summaries.
One long prompt. Break work into steps and iterate.

Quick-start checklist

Turn on Gemini in Chrome when it reaches your region. Pin the Gemini button.
Pick a default model per task: 1.5 Pro for analysis, 2.0 Flash for speed.
Set a style guide prompt for tone and structure.
Save reusable prompts as snippets.
Review outputs for accuracy and add your sources.

Why it matters

Gemini’s Chrome integration and broader app ties mean AI help shows up where you work. With long context and agent features, it can shift daily workflows from tab-hunting to targeted actions.

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