What is Gemini (Google's LLM)?

Gemini is Google's family of large language models, built by Google DeepMind, and it can read and generate text, images, audio, and video without switching between separate systems.

What makes Gemini different from other models?

Most competing models started out as pure text predictors and had image or audio understanding bolted on afterward. Gemini was built multimodal from day one, so it tends to feel more natural when you hand it a screenshot, a voice note, and a block of text in the same conversation.

Is Gemini open or closed, and which versions exist?

Like Claude and GPT, Gemini is closed source: you can't download the model weights, you can only use it through Google's own app, API, or cloud tools. As of mid-2026 the lineup breaks down like this:

• Gemini 3.1 — the current generation, with Pro and Flash versions plus a stripped-down Flash-Lite for quick, cheap tasks.
• Gemini 3.5 — now rolling out, with Flash already public and Pro following behind it.

Between the tiers, Pro is generally the one to pick for hard math or coding, while Flash trades some depth for speed and a lower price.

Where can you use Gemini, and why is its reach an advantage?

What really sets Gemini apart isn't just the model — it's where Google can put it. The company already runs Search, Gmail, Docs, and Android for billions of people, so Gemini shows up built into apps you're already using instead of asking you to install something new. You can also try it directly at the Gemini app or gemini.google.com, call it through the API, or run it on Google Cloud's Vertex AI if you're building something for a business.

That reach, plus Google's existing data and infrastructure, is a big part of its competitive edge.