It seems Google is planning to rebrand its AI chatbot, Bard, as Gemini. The new branding direction follows a similar path as Microsoft, which last November rebranded its AI chatbot from Bing Chat to Copilot, integrating several complementary products and services in the process.
As shared by Dylan Roussel on X, web app code showshdden UI notifications confirming the new branding.
Bard will soon be renamed to Gemini!
— Dylan Roussel (@evowizz) February 1, 2024
The changelog also contains a mention of "Gemini Apps" which seems to be a way for Google to gather Gemini "web" and Gemini "mobile" under a same name.
And in case you are curious, Bard Advanced will be Gemini Advanced. pic.twitter.com/dPlCYjgjth
Additionally, in the latest release of the Google app beta on Android, all code referencing Bard has been changed to Gemini.<string name=”assistant_chat_advanced_mode_subtitle”>Gemini Advanced</string>
This consolidation of branding signifies Google's intent to unify its AI offerings under the Gemini moniker, streamlining its AI identity across products and services. Today the company announced the availability of Bard powered by Gemini Pro in 230 countries and 40 languages. They are also preparing to unviel a new paid tier called "Gemini Advanced" that will leverage Google’s most advanced Gemini Ultra model and bring new capabilities like YouTube music integration and more.
Up until now, Google has been deliberate to refer to Bard as an "experiment". With this rebrand, the search giant may be signaling confidence in the stability, capabilities, and potential of its AI technology to play an integral role in the company's core offerings. It also suggests an effort to streamline its AI narrative, making it more accessible and understandable to both the market and the end-users, and setting a clear direction for the evolution of its AI capabilities in the so-called Gemini era.