IntelliTechs ยท Oct 04, 2026
If you use Gemini for free, since October 9 you no longer pick the model: the app uses Auto mode, which sends most requests to Flash-Lite.
Google announced the change on a help page, and it reached the vast majority of free accounts on the evening of October 9, Pacific time, according to 9to5Google.
Prices below are US dollars per month, as reported by PPC Land and 9to5Google.
Deep Think is the mode Google describes as "maximum parallel reasoning": the model explores several lines of thought at once before answering.
Since May 17, 2026, Gemini has measured usage by the computing power each request consumes. The limit refreshes every five hours, and a weekly cap applies once you reach it.
Google has not given a reason. The timing coincides with the announcement of Gemini 4 Argon, which will reach AI Ultra subscribers first.
Read the full article