Goodbye Bard, Hello Gemini: Google's AI Rebrand Explained
Google killed the Bard name on February 8, 2024, rebranding everything to Gemini. One AI brand across all products.
On February 8, 2024, Google announced Bard was dead. Long live Gemini.
Every Google AI product would now be "Gemini"—the chatbot, the model, the paid tier, everything. One brand to compete with ChatGPT.
Why Rebrand?
Bard had baggage. It launched poorly, was seen as inferior to ChatGPT, and carried the stigma of being Google's rushed response.
Gemini, their actual model name, tested better and signaled a fresh start.
Plus: simplification. One name, one identity, less confusion.
What Changed
Bard → Gemini: The free chatbot New: Gemini Advanced: $20/month for Gemini Ultra (their most capable model) Mobile apps: Gemini apps for iOS and Android Google Workspace integration: Gemini across Gmail, Docs, etc.
The rebrand came with substance—better models, clearer offerings.
Where Are They Now?
Gemini is now Google's unified AI brand. The rebrand worked—people stopped thinking "Bard" (failed ChatGPT clone) and started thinking "Gemini" (Google's AI).
February 8, 2024 was Google's AI reset—admitting Bard failed and trying again with better branding and better tech.