Google to start limiting free Gemini users to Flash-Lite on October 9

Google says changes that limit Gemini Apps users with personal accounts who do not have an AI subscription to Flash-Lite will start taking effect October 9. After the change, those users will no longer have access to Flash or Pro.

According to the official change notice, AI Plus subscribers will retain Flash-Lite and Flash, but not Pro. AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers will continue to have access to all three models: Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro.

The October 9 start applies only to users without a subscription. Google says AI Plus subscribers will receive an email explaining when the changes take effect for them. The public notice gives neither a separate effective date nor a notification method for AI Pro or AI Ultra subscribers.

Google’s current Gemini Apps limits page, observed October 5, still lists Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro as available across all four tiers. Once the new matrix applies, users without a plan will lose two model choices, while AI Plus users will lose access to Pro.

The change is one of several recent moves affecting Gemini availability, alongside Google’s restricted rollout of Gemini 4 Argon to trusted cyber defenders.

For each model available under a user’s tier, Google says the user will be able to choose a low, medium or high effort level. Higher effort consumes more of the user’s usage limit.

Google’s two help pages disagree on Deep Think eligibility. The change notice says AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers will have access to Deep Think, while the general limits page labels the option as AI Ultra only. Google has not reconciled the discrepancy in the cited notices.