Google "pumped up" Gemini: more tokens, Ukrainian app and anti-hallucination function

Google has announced a significant update to Gemini, aimed at making artificial intelligence an even more user-friendly assistant.

Now, the free version of Gemini includes the new 1.5 Flash model. With Gemini 1.5 Flash, users should notice overall enhancements in quality and response speed, particularly with improvements in reasoning and image comprehension. Additionally, Google has quadrupled the token limit in Gemini to 32,000, allowing for more extended conversations and the ability to pose more complex questions in the free version.

Gemini 1.5 Flash is available for all Gemini users both in browsers and on mobile devices, supporting 40 languages, including Ukrainian, across more than 230 countries and territories.

Soon, users will be able to upload files via Google Drive or from their devices for processing and summarization. Gemini will also soon have the capability to analyze data files, enabling users to extract valuable information and visualize it using charts and graphs.

Another new feature is that Gemini now displays links to related content for fact-based queries. This should help reduce hallucinations and make it easier for users to find websites that can provide more information on a given topic.

Now, for queries in English in specific countries (including Ukraine), users can access additional information on various subjects directly in Gemini's responses. Simply click the icon at the end of a paragraph to view websites that delve deeper into the topic. If the information is found via a Gmail extension, embedded links to relevant emails will also be provided.

This feature also builds on Google's efforts to combat hallucinations. In addition to links to related content, the double-checking functionality of Gemini's responses cross-verifies answers using Google Search to highlight claims that are either validated or disproven online. For disproven information, users can explore the topic more deeply to verify the facts independently.

Earlier this year, users were given the ability to converse with Gemini directly in Google Messages on certain Android devices. This feature is now gradually being rolled out to the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Ukraine (with the option to communicate in Ukrainian). To use it, users just need to tap the “Start Chat” button in Messages and select Gemini. The mobile app for Gemini will be available in Ukraine at the beginning of August.

Next week, Google will expand Gemini's access for teenagers worldwide, supporting over 40 languages, including Ukrainian. Teenagers who meet the minimum age requirements for managing their own Google accounts will be able to access Gemini to better understand school subjects, prepare for university, or seek help with creative projects.

To ensure the safety of this younger audience, specialists have implemented additional policies and precautions, including a special adaptation process for teenagers, which features a guide for using artificial intelligence responsibly to help them navigate AI ethically.

Source: Google