Google launched Gemini 2.0, its most advanced AI model yet.

The disclosure suggests parent company Alphabet is pushing ahead as it awaits antitrust action from the Justice Department, accused of leaving American consumers “tied to an illegal monopolist.”

Gemini 2.0 introduces features such as image interpretation, sound generation, and engaging in multimodal interactions, a significant advance over its 1.0 predecessor, released this time last year.

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote that this version will “understand more of the world around you, think more steps ahead, and act on your behalf, under your supervision.”

DOJ proposes to split Google assets

Initially, Gemini 2.0 is available to select test groups and Gemini Advanced subscribers for $20 per month.

Google plans to integrate the technology into its free services, including Chrome, YouTube and digital maps, starting next year. The strategy pits Google against competitors such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s AI-enhanced Windows features.

The launch coincides with Google’s ongoing DOJ back-and-forth. In August, a federal judge ruled that Google’s search engine practices violated antitrust laws and labeled the company an illegal monopoly.

The Justice Department proposed remedies that could include divesting key assets such as the Chrome browser and the Android operating system.

Google has criticized the proposals as “overbroad” and plans to challenge any split orders.

Public access to new AI features

DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said in April that over time the company will spend more than $100 billion developing artificial intelligence technology.

British Nobel laureate Hassabis co-founded DeepMind before Alphabet bought the research lab a decade ago for $400 million to $650 million.

Gemini 2.0 will power experimental ventures such as “Project Astra,” a general-purpose artificial intelligence agent designed for more meaningful user interactions, and “Project Mariner,” a Chrome extension that automates web browsing tasks.

Both projects are in the early stages of testing and public access is expected in the future.

The company is also improving its AI insights feature in search results to provide more accurate and comprehensive information for the two billion people who use up to seven of its products annually.

This move should resolve previous issues where AI-generated suggestions were inaccurate or misleading. One viral example of an answer to the question “How many legs does an elephant have” resulted in a Google AI summary answer that said, “Elephants have two legs, five toes on the front and four on the back.” Other examples include advising users to smoke while pregnant and sticking pizza .

The improvements will initially be available to a test audience, with a wider release planned for next year.

When will we know the DOJ result?

If the US Justice Department gets its way, Google will be forced to sell or spin off Chrome as part of its punishment for deploying its search engine in ways it says stifle competition and potential innovation.

The company plans to appeal any adverse rulings, which are expected to arrive by mid-2025. That will likely drag out the legal battle for years to come.

The California giant, meanwhile, is pushing ahead with its fast-moving AI arms race.

“I can’t wait to see what this next era brings,” CEO Sundar Pichai wrote on his blog.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.