Google Retires Gemini 1.5 Models, Ushers In 2.0 Flash Era
Transition Timeline and Model Retirement
In accordance with its prior announcement, Google has officially bid farewell to the 1.5 family of models within the Gemini app. This move follows the successful launch of Gemini 2.0 Flash, a significant upgrade that has been met with positive feedback from users.
Approximately three weeks after the stable release of Gemini 2.0 Flash, Google initiated the removal of 1.5 Flash and 1.5 Pro from its app suite across the web, Android, and iOS platforms. The 1.5 Pro model had been introduced in May 2022, while 1.5 Flash joined the app in July 2022.
Model Picker Updates
In the model picker, the retired models were previously described as follows:
- 2.0 Flash: "For everyday tasks"
- 1.5 Flash: "For tasks that require more context" (typically recommended for academic research and technical writing)
- 1.5 Pro: "For tasks that require the most context and accuracy" (ideal for highly specialized research and analysis)
With the retirement of 1.5 Flash and 1.5 Pro, 2.0 Flash has become the default model for all free and paid users. However, Gemini Advanced subscribers continue to have access to additional features, including a 1 million token context window for file uploads, custom Gems, Saved Info, Recall, and Deep Research, which utilizes the 1.5 Pro model.
Unanswered Questions and Future Expectations
The removal of 1.5 Pro before the release of 2.0 Pro has raised some questions among users. Currently, the experimental version of 2.0 Pro lacks certain capabilities, such as access to real-time information and some Gemini features, including file upload.
Additionally, the API version for developers offers a 2 million token context window, which raises expectations for future enhancements to the model’s capabilities.
Performance Benchmarks: 2.0 Flash Surpasses 1.5 Pro
Despite the absence of 2.0 Pro, Google’s official benchmarks indicate that 2.0 Flash significantly outperforms 1.5 Pro across various tasks, including code generation, factual accuracy, math problem-solving, reasoning, and others. Notably, 2.0 Flash achieves these improvements while operating at twice the speed, enhancing both accuracy and efficiency.
Model Picker Options for Gemini Advanced Subscribers
For Gemini Advanced subscribers, the model picker now includes the following options:
- 2.0 Flash: Default model for everyday tasks
- 1.5 Pro (experimental): Limited capabilities, recommended for specific tasks requiring high levels of context
- 2.0 Pro (experimental): Unavailable, awaiting full release with expanded capabilities
Conclusion
The retirement of the 1.5 family of models and the introduction of 2.0 Flash mark a significant chapter in the evolution of Gemini. While the removal of 1.5 Pro may leave some users with lingering questions, Google’s commitment to continuous improvement and the impressive performance of 2.0 Flash suggest a promising future for the platform.
As Gemini continues to grow and evolve, it will be exciting to witness the introduction of new features and capabilities, particularly with the highly anticipated release of 2.0 Pro. Users can anticipate further updates and announcements from Google in the months to come.
