Google's Gemini Advanced might soon offer file analysis to free users for limited use
This functionality allows users to generate summaries, create data-driven charts, and receive detailed insights directly from their files.
As competition in the AI market intensifies, tech giants are pulling out all the stops to attract new users, often by giving a taste of premium features without charge. Companies like Google, OpenAI, and X are employing a strategy where limited versions of advanced features are made accessible to free users, encouraging them to explore and, potentially, subscribe for full access.
Now, Google appears ready to take this approach further with its Gemini AI.
Earlier this year, Google enhanced Gemini’s file upload and analysis features, adding support for documents and spreadsheets. This functionality allows users to generate summaries, create data-driven charts, and receive detailed insights directly from their files. Until now, these advanced capabilities have been exclusive to Gemini Advanced subscribers. However, an APK teardown of Google’s latest app update, as spotted in an Android Authority report shows that this feature may soon be extended to all users.
David Adubiina
New code in the latest beta of the Google app suggests that non-subscribers could soon be able to upload and analyze files with Gemini, though it’s likely to come with a set quota. The code suggests that users will be able to track their quota usage as a percentage, and once their daily limit is reached, they’ll need to wait for it to reset. Although specifics on the limit aren’t yet clear, a daily refresh is likely.
The strategy of offering limited free access to advanced AI capabilities is becoming a common tactic across the industry. Competitors, including ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude, have adopted a tiered model where users get a limited daily quota of premium features. Meanwhile, X also recently announced a free version of its Grok AI with capped queries, allowing users to experience the service while incentivizing them to consider a paid subscription for unlimited access.
Louis Eriakha
Offering partial access to high-powered AI tools is more than just a marketing move—it’s a way to hook users by showcasing the potential of these tools and drawing them deeper into the platform’s ecosystem. Whether or not this leads to a larger base of paid subscribers remains to be seen, but for now, these free samples are giving millions of users a compelling reason to explore AI on their favourite apps.
