Google just turbocharged its AI subscription rollout, expanding Google AI Plus to 36 new countries today. The premium service now covers 77 countries total, marking the tech giant's most aggressive push yet to monetize its cutting-edge AI models including Gemini and new video generation tools. With a 50% introductory discount, Google's clearly betting big on subscription revenue as AI competition heats up.
Google is making its boldest AI subscription play yet. The company just announced Google AI Plus is rolling out to 36 additional countries today, bringing the premium AI service to a massive 77 nations worldwide.
The expansion comes hot on the heels of what Google calls a "positive reception" in Indonesia and the service's initial 40-country debut. Senior Product Manager Kylan Nieh from the Google One team made the announcement through the company's official blog, signaling this isn't just a quiet rollout but a strategic priority.
Google AI Plus packs serious firepower for subscribers willing to pay up. The service delivers higher limits for the company's image generation and editing model called Nano Banana, plus expanded access to video generation tools Flow and Whisk through the Gemini app. Users also get Gemini integration baked directly into Gmail and Google Docs, expanded NotebookLM access, and 200GB of cloud storage.
The timing couldn't be more calculated. While OpenAI continues pushing ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft doubles down on Copilot subscriptions, Google's aggressive global expansion suggests the company sees a narrow window to capture market share before AI subscription fatigue sets in.
What's particularly telling is Google's promotional strategy. New subscribers get 50% off for their first six months - a significant discount that screams "land grab." This pricing approach mirrors tactics we've seen from streaming services during their expansion phases, where companies prioritize user acquisition over immediate profitability.
The video generation features represent Google's latest attempt to differentiate from competitors. Flow and Whisk aren't just incremental updates - they're Google's answer to tools like Runway ML and Stability AI's video offerings. By bundling these capabilities into a single subscription, Google's betting users want an all-in-one AI toolkit rather than juggling multiple specialized services.
NotebookLM's inclusion also signals Google's play for the knowledge worker market. The AI-powered research assistant has quietly gained traction among professionals who need to synthesize information from multiple sources. By gate-keeping expanded access behind the Plus subscription, Google's testing whether productivity features can drive recurring revenue.
