Google will limit free use of its models – here's how it will affect you

Google is updating access terms for its Gemini applications: free-tier users will be limited to the Flash-Lite model, Plus subscribers will lose access to Pro models, and full access will only be available to premium package subscribers. Meanwhile, Google is shutting down previous versions of Gemini and restricting integration of Claude 5.6 models. The decision is sparking outrage online, with threats of cancellations and switching to competitors.

Google is tightening access conditions for its artificial intelligence models in the Gemini app. Free-tier users will lose access to standard Flash models and be limited to the basic Flash-Lite model. AI Plus plan subscribers will lose access to Pro models, which will only be available to subscribers of the Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra premium packages. At the same time, Google is shutting down the Gemini 3.6 Flash and Gemini 3.7 Flash models and requiring a transition to version 3.8. Additionally, the company is imposing restrictions on integrating Claude 5.5 models in the Google Antigravity development environment. The decision is sparking outrage on social media, with users threatening to cancel subscriptions and switch to competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic. The move reflects an aggressive shift by tech giants from the user acquisition phase to the payment collection phase.