Understanding Google AI Ultra: What’s Behind the Premium AI Experience?
Google AI Ultra, a new premium subscription unveiled at Google I/O 2025, powers many of the above-mentioned innovations like Agent Mode and Veo 3. At $249.99 per month (50% off for the first three months for new users), it offers top-tier access to advanced AI models like Gemini 2.5 Pro with Deep Think mode, tools like Flow for 1080p video creation, and Whisk Animate for eight-second video clips. It also integrates Gemini into apps like Gmail and Chrome, plus 2TB of storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Photos. Available only in the U.S. for now, with global expansion planned.
Gemini’s “Agent Mode”
Imagine having an AI executive assistant that doesn’t just chat but acts—booking your flights, researching topics, and managing your Google apps like a pro. Gemini’s new “Agent Mode” transforms it into a powerful executive assistant, capable of orchestrating complex, multi-step tasks with minimal oversight. It integrates advanced features like live web browsing, in-depth research, and smart connections with Google apps, allowing users to state objectives and let Gemini handle the execution. This feature is initially available for desktop users with the Google AI Ultra plan.
Veo 3 and Flow
Veo 3 can generate videos with audio—dialogue, sound effects, and music—all from a text prompt, while Flow lets users storyboard and edit within one platform. Together, they make video creation feel almost magical, raising questions about how far AI can take storytelling. These tools are accessible through the Gemini Ultra subscription, potentially marking the dawn of a new era for filmmakers and creators.
AI Mode in Search
Google’s AI Mode for Search, now rolling out to all U.S. users, enhances the search experience with advanced reasoning and multimodality. Features like Deep Search tackle complex queries by issuing hundreds of searches to create expert-level reports, while Search Live, powered by Project Astra, lets you interact with the world in real time using your camera—for example, pointing at a project to get instant explanations.
Imagen 4
Imagen 4, Google’s latest text-to-image model, pushes the boundaries of visual creativity with photorealistic outputs at up to 2K resolution. Faster than its predecessor, it excels at rendering fine details like fabrics and water droplets, powering tools like Flow for filmmaking and beyond. Available to Gemini Ultra subscribers, this model makes us wonder how AI-generated art might blur the lines between reality and imagination.
Developer Tools
Google I/O 2025 brought a suite of developer tools that could redefine how AI applications are built. Stitch, a new AI-powered tool, generates UI designs and frontend code from natural language or image prompts, with export options to CSS/HTML or Figma. Google AI Studio now integrates Gemini 2.5 Pro into its code editor for faster prototyping, while the Gemini API adds features like controllable text-to-speech for custom audio output, asynchronous function calling, and the Computer Use API for web browsing capabilities (available to trusted testers)