Free Gemini users drop to Flash Lite only

What happened: Google's help page says that from October 9, Gemini app users without a plan get only Flash Lite and lose the Flash and Pro models. AI Plus subscribers at $4.99 a month keep Flash Lite and Flash but lose Pro, while AI Pro at $19.99 a month gains Deep Think. Google is adding low, medium, and high effort settings, with high effort using more of your limit. Google hasn't said where its new Gemini 4 model sits in these tiers.
The claim: Google frames the change as reorganizing model access and limits by plan.
Austin's take: Austin jokes the name needs work (it deserves a flashlight icon at least) and sees a pattern: impressive models launch, then capabilities get curtailed as running them at scale gets too expensive. He cites a chart showing only about 2.2% of AI users pay, versus 30% to 50% of internet users at a similar stage, and expects companies to push harder for revenue.
Why it matters: The best models are moving behind paywalls, and free tiers are shrinking across the industry.
What to do: If you rely on free Gemini for serious work, decide before October 9 whether Flash Lite is enough or a paid tier is worth it, and watch how effort settings eat your limit.
Not confirmed yet: Where Gemini 4 lands in the tiers is unknown.

The Loop