Free Gemini users lose Flash and Pro models
From 2026-10-09, free Gemini accounts only get the small Flash-Lite model, while Flash and Pro need a paid plan.
From 2026-10-09, people using Gemini without a subscription only get Flash-Lite, Google's smallest model. Before, they could use Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro. Google AI Pro subscribers keep all three models and gain Deep Think, which used to be for Ultra only. Ultra keeps everything.
If you use the free plan, expect quicker but weaker answers on hard questions. Google AI Pro costs $19.99 a month and brings the bigger models back.
Gemini stays our best value pick for people who pay. For free use, our pick in AI chat is DeepSeek, and the free plan of ChatGPT now runs GPT-6.
See the current picks.
Also new.
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AI agents
Perplexity Computer can now run entirely on a Mac
Perplexity's computer agent can now plan and work on your files without leaving your Mac, if you pay for Pro, Max or Enterprise.
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3D generators
Meshy Edit changes one part of a 3D model
Meshy now lets you select part of a 3D model and change it with one sentence, so you stop regenerating the whole thing.
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Image generators
FLUX 3 Klein released as a free download
Black Forest Labs released FLUX 3 Image Klein as a free download, so you can make and edit images on your own computer.