I want to like Google AI Pro, but I don’t see what it offers the average person
I, like many new Pixel 10 owners, had a few issues getting my free trial to Google AI Pro set up. However, after a few attempts, I finally got it working, and it’s been smooth sailing from there on.
Smooth sailing, yes, but it’s not been a success for Google.
After having had the AI Pro trial for about a month now, I’ve had a chance to explore nearly everything it offers and, frankly, I’m not sure if it’s worth the money. That’s not because it’s bad — it’s because I can’t understand why anyone would pay for it.
### Google AI Pro Offers a Lot, But It’s of Limited Value
I know more than is healthy about smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices, but I like to think I’m close to the average person when it comes to using AI. I’ll ask AI basic questions when my hands are full, check the weather forecast, and do some actions while in the shower or listening to music. Essentially, I use Gemini a bit, even if it’s not a core part of my life. I suspect many people are in a similar place.
So, with my toes dipped into the AI pool, I was excited to try out Google’s AI Pro plan for free, for a year. But after testing it out, I’m not sure what I was excited about.
### Access to Improved Gemini Models
Google AI Pro promises access to improved models of Gemini. Yet honestly, I don’t know how much better these are compared to the basic (and free) option I had access to before.
If I used AI as a search engine — which, by the way, you shouldn’t — would this be an obvious upgrade? I have no idea.
### Image and Video Generation
The chance to use Google’s newest and fastest models for generating videos seems like a good upgrade, as does the increased number of credits you can use. Great!
Except, using the faster model burns around **ten times** more credits than the slower ones. That means it roughly balances out to the same number of videos you could make in a month. And, frankly, how often am I supposed to make AI videos and images anyway?
Maybe I’m boring, but since the technology left its infancy, I haven’t felt the need to create a single AI image or video.
### NotebookLM — What’s the Point?
What about NotebookLM? Um, embarrassingly, I’ve never really figured out what it’s for. Sure, it’s a “research tool.” Great.
But how am I meant to use it? And, crucially, why?
I’ve never quite figured out where NotebookLM fits into my life. While I’m sure it’s exceptionally useful for some people, it has always seemed weirdly obtuse to me — like it doesn’t want just anyone using it. And I am apparently not the person it wants.
So, more NotebookLM does not appeal to me. And as I continue to suspect, it likely doesn’t appeal to the “average” person either.
### Coding Features? Not for Me
And for the love of Pete, those niche features don’t stop there. Gemini can code for you!
Except I have little interest in coding, and if I did, I’d probably know better than to rely on AI for it — not least because I’d rather avoid Gemini having a mental breakdown on me.
Maybe it can help an amateur code a website or build an app? Sure, I guess. But given AI’s mixed track record with coding, you’d need enough coding knowledge to catch when AI has messed up. Which rather defeats the point of using it in the first place.
### Gemini in GSuite? Still Not Interested
That leaves me with Gemini access in Docs, Sheets, and Gmail. And I’m sorry, but I don’t care. AI needs to offer mainstream appeal if it’s going to stick around.
### AI Pro Just Isn’t That
AI is supposed to be the next big thing in tech. It’s meant to be a massive paradigm shift, akin to the introduction of the iPhone. However, if all these companies have to offer are increasingly niche features, upgrades that require research to understand, or tools you can’t see the point of, AI will never reach its potential.
Ultimately, AI has to make money to justify its existence. AI Pro should be one of Google’s primary ways of doing that. It’s Google’s cheapest AI subscription, but to my eye, it doesn’t deliver enough to be tempting.
### It’s Not a Feature Problem, It’s a Marketing Problem
Many of these features could be incredibly useful. It’s not about what AI Pro offers; it’s about how it’s presented. Marketing has to be clear and concise.
The oft-quoted golden rule of marketing is that you have your audience’s attention for three to eight seconds. If you can’t win them over in that time, then you’ve failed.
So far, Google’s AI Pro subscription fails that fundamental test.
AI as a whole has too many buzzwords and too many “upgrades” that aren’t immediately obvious. If people can’t instantly figure out what they want from AI, then AI isn’t doing well as a product.
At this point, it feels like the **concept** of AI is more tempting than the **experience** of using AI — and that’s the opposite of what we want if AI is to be useful, widespread, and, importantly, profitable.
https://www.androidpolice.com/i-want-to-like-google-ai-pro-but-i-dont-see-what-it-offers-the-average-person/
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