Google Gemini Chatbot: No Account Sign-In Required Now, But There Is A Catch

Google Gemini Chatbot is now available to users without having to sign in to your Google account. As AI rivalry intensifies, tech giant Google is offering its artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, Gemini, without the need to sign in, mirroring its rival OpenAI's move with ChatGPT. On Feb. 6, ChatGPT became accessible to everyone without requiring a sign-up, a move likely aimed at attracting a broader user base.

You can now use the Google Gemini Chatbot even without sharing your account information. However, this feature is available on Gemini's web version but not on the mobile app.

If you visit gemini.google.com via incognito mode without signing in, you will be greeted with the message "Meet Gemini, your personal AI assistant". Previously, the message used to read, "Hello, [name]". This means the user can directly start generating responses by entering desired prompts in the search bar. 

It is important to note that If someone is already logged into their Google Account and then tries to access Gemini, the chatbot will automatically attempt to sign them in. If someone wants to use Gemini without signing out of their Google Account, the simplest way could be to access it in incognito mode.

However, there's a catch. Without logging in, one can only use Gemini's 2.0 Flash model which is meant for "everyday help". To use advanced versions such as 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental), Deep Research, and Personalization (experimental), one will need to sign in with their account. 

Further, chat history will not be saved until users sign in. This could disrupt some users who want to use the chatbot consistently without logging in. The file upload option is also unavailable without signing in.

The move to remove the sign-in barrier could encourage more people to use Gemini for day-to-day purposes. Since no chat history is saved, users could feel it offers greater privacy and security. 

The changes to Gemini have now left users with a choice: either they can utilise the full suite of Gemini’s features offered by signing in, or they can refuse to link their chatbot activity with their account, and use the chatbot without signing in but with limited features.