Google’s latest premium subscription offering, unveiled at I/O, is a bold new entry into the AI-as-a-service landscape—and an expensive one at that. Dubbed “AI Ultra,” this $249.99-per-month plan is Google’s most ambitious attempt yet to monetize the bleeding edge of its AI ecosystem. Framed as the ultimate package for those who want access to the best Google has to offer, it’s a clear signal that cutting-edge AI capabilities are no longer just about innovation—they’re about exclusivity.
The new subscription, currently available only in the U.S. with plans to expand to 70 countries, builds on Google’s current AI Premium offering, which itself is getting a facelift and a name change. Now called “AI Pro,” the $19.99-per-month plan will serve as a mid-tier option, offering access to powerful tools like Gemini and Flow, but without the extravagant extras found in AI Ultra.
What does AI Ultra buy you for $250 a month? At the top of the list is Gemini—Google’s flagship AI platform—offering the highest possible usage limits, full access to the Deep Research and Deep Think features of Gemini 2.5 Pro, and early use of Veo 3, which adds synchronized audio to its text-to-video generation capabilities. Google’s promise of “best-in-class” also includes Veo 2 access for today’s users and deep integration across Gmail, Docs, and other core apps.
AI filmmaking also gets a spotlight with the introduction of Flow—a new creative tool that fuses Veo, Imagen, and Gemini into a single suite for AI-generated video production. It’s designed for creators who want a single interface for script generation, video editing, and even AI-assisted direction. Meanwhile, the Whisk tool pushes boundaries further, allowing users to generate and remix images with minimal input.
For those looking to create research or knowledge projects, NotebookLM is also part of the bundle, with top-tier usage limits and access to the most advanced models. Gemini is also being integrated into Chrome, allowing real-time context-aware AI responses based on the page you’re viewing. And with Project Mariner, users get access to agentic AI that can autonomously juggle up to ten tasks from a unified dashboard.
Beyond AI, the package includes lifestyle perks like a staggering 30TB of Google Drive storage and a subscription to YouTube Premium. Still, despite the steep monthly cost, it does not include hardware perks—like a new Pixel phone—which some might expect at this price point.
In sum, Google’s AI Ultra isn’t just a tech subscription—it’s a status symbol. For $250 per month, you’re not only accessing the future of AI, you’re paying for the privilege to be first in line. Whether that’s worth the price depends entirely on how much you value early access, expansive cloud storage, and the prestige of bleeding-edge tools.
