News Analysis
Google's Gemini 2.0 announcement in mid-December capped a year of big tech firms pivoting their AI products towards an agentic AI future. The release, whose general availability was anticipated for January 2025, included new multimodal functionality as well as the ability to use third-party apps and services to perform tasks.
At the time of the announcement, Google launched an experimental model geared at developers called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking in the Google AI Studio and Vertex AI, as well as integrated Gemini 2.0 into the Gemini assistant.
Google Workspace Business and Enterprise customers won't have to look hard for the launch when it arrives however, because on Jan. 16, the company announced new pricing plans that effectively integrate Gemini 2.0 into its offerings. Let's look at what's behind these moves.
Gemini 2.0 Hints at Google's Future in Agentic AI
Gemini 2.0 boasts multimodal functionality, with abilities to create and interact with text, images, audio and video formats. The combined multimodal and reasoning capabilities of the Gemini 2.0 AI agents means they can take on more complex and sophisticated tasks across a variety of use cases. The new model also integrates with native apps including Google Search and Maps.
Agentic AI represents a leap forward in artificial intelligence by combining sophisticated machine learning algorithms with decision-making autonomy. Unlike traditional AI systems that follow predefined instructions, agentic AI can independently analyze situations and adapt to changing circumstances within a defined scope.
Just last week the company released an update to the Flash model for developers, which can explain the thought process behind decisions and improved results in math and science. It is unclear when the company will fold Gemini 2.0 across more of its portfolio, but this is a notable start. The company is also working on a number of projects based on the Gemini 2.0 model to explore the potential of AI models in different scenarios, including as a universal assistant (Project Astra), a coding assistant (Jules) and finally, a Chrome extension, ostensibly to conduct online tasks such as booking flights, ordering pizza or other tasks (Project Mariner).
What Sets Gemini 2.0 Apart
What is important about Gemini 2.0 is not the predictable leap in processing power or speed, but the fundamental shift in how we will relate to artificial intelligence at work, KO Insights founder and CEO Kate O'Neill told Reworked. “We're moving from 'AI as tool' to AI as ... something at least a little more like collaborator, although I am still not ready to call this collaboration yet. In any case, this shift changes everything about how we need to approach implementation, governance and human development in our organizations."
Gemini 2.0's capabilities span a wide range of workplace scenarios, but the key to applying and adopting it — and any AI — lies in maintaining human agency while maximizing technological potential, said O'Neill. Its ability to understand context and process multiple types of information simultaneously means it can assist with everything from document analysis to process optimization. The tool goes beyond responding to direct commands to identifying opportunities for improvement and suggesting ways to streamline workflows, she said.
Gemini 2.0's multimodal capabilities could aid remote work by capturing the nuances we lose in digital translation — tone, context, cultural subtleties. “But let us be clear: AI should enhance human connection, not replace it. I have seen too many organizations try to solve culture problems with technology. The goal should be using AI to remove friction from necessary digital interactions while creating more space for meaningful human ones,” O'Neill said.
Gemini 2.0 for All?
However, Gemini 2.0 could be a real disruptor if only for its pricing plans. As of Jan. 16, 2025, Google announced new pricing plans for its Google Workspace that reflect the integration of Gemini 2.0 into its offerings.
The company removed the previous add-on fees for Gemini while increasing the base prices of its plans to account for the enhanced functionality. For instance, the Business Standard plan will see an increase from $12 to $14 per user per month, while the Business Plus plan will rise from $18 to $22 per user per month.
The pricing strategy aims to simplify access to AI capabilities across all Workspace plans without requiring separate subscriptions for Gemini features. It also effectively removes the choice of whether or not to add AI to your plan by making it a non-negotiable.
Google's decision to embed these advanced AI capabilities into existing plans signifies a shift towards making AI an essential component of professional applications. According to Jerry Dischler, president of Google Cloud Applications, the approach ensures the transformative power of AI is accessible to every business and employee at an affordable price. The new pricing takes effect immediately for new customers and goes into effect for existing customers upon their next renewal date after March 17, 2025.
The effects of Gemini on the digital workplace have been mixed so far, said Dev Nag, founder and CEO at QueryPal. User adoption data shows a stark divide between power users who use Gemini's deep Workspace integration for significant productivity gains, and mainstream users who struggle to incorporate it into their workflows.
Enterprise customers report that while Gemini excels at tasks like Drive document analysis and meeting summarization, many employees default back to ChatGPT for general tasks due to familiarity and perceived better performance. This pattern mirrors historical patterns Nag has seen with other enterprise AI rollouts, where technical capabilities and integration alone do not guarantee adoption. Once a tool has been around long enough to build habits, they are hard to break, he said.
Nag voiced concern about pricing before the company's newly announced pricing tiers. Time will tell if the updated functionality and the ready availability are enough to break the habits he flags.
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Agentic AI in the Spotlight
Microsoft has also made strides in agentic AI with its Copilot suite, which integrates large language models into Microsoft 365 applications to provide contextually aware assistance for tasks like document generation and data analysis. Its launch of the Magentic-One agent orchestration platform in November 2024 was only the latest in a series of agent releases.
OpenAI launched a preview of its long-rumored agentic AI solution, Operator, just last week to perform functions such as grocery shopping online, an echo of Claude's computer use functionality launched in October 2024.
Innovations from Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and many other companies signal the next step in the artificial intelligence era, with promises to redefine productivity and collaboration in both personal and professional spheres. As agentic AI continues to evolve, it will play a crucial role in optimizing workflows and enabling organizations to adapt swiftly to dynamic market demands.