Google I/O: Gemini & Search innovations to MENA
Today, we unveiled a suite of new AI-powered models, products, and features for Gemini and Search at our annual developer event, Google I/O. Here are a few features/products that are coming to people in the Middle East and North Africa:
- Gemini 2.5 Flash: Earlier in March, Gemini 2.5 Pro was launched, which now sweeps the LMArena leaderboard in all categories. Today, Gemini 2.5 Flash is launched, Google’s most efficient model designed for speed and low-cost. The new model is available for preview in Google AI Studio for developers, in Vertex AI for enterprise and in the Gemini app for everyone, starting in June.
- Jules (jules.google.com): An asynchronous AI coding agent that can fix bugs and create pull requests in parallel, so coders can focus on creative and impactful work. This will be available for developers in different countries, including those in MENA.
Search Updates
- AI Overviews: Google is bringing AI Overviews to the Search experience across the Middle East and North Africa. The feature, powered by Gemini’s model, offers quick summaries and links to help people understand topics fast. The feature is now available in additional languages including Arabic.
- [Unavailable in MENA] AI Mode: AI Mode, Google’s most powerful AI-powered search experience, with more advanced reasoning and multimodality, is coming to users over the age of 18 in the US. It’s also evolving into a full-on shopping agent, where users can see how an outfit looks on them virtually, by uploading just a single image of themselves.
Gemini Updates
- Gemini Live with Camera: Starting today, Gemini Live with Camera will be available to Gemini users, for free, on both Android and iOS devices.
- Quizzes: AI-powered Quizzes are now available for students globally, offering personalized, dynamic learning via Gemini on desktop and mobile.
- Audio Overviews: People can use the Canvas or Deep Research feature on Gemini to create infographics, and listen to engaging audible discussions in the form of podcasts. This feature is now available in different languages including Arabic.
- Imagen 4: Google’s latest model for image generation, is now available to all users in MENA, to generate more detailed and personalized images based on prompts.
- [Unavailable in MENA] Veo 3: The latest state-of-the-art video generation model now offers videos with audio — traffic noises in the background, even dialogue between characters. This feature is not available yet in the MENA region..
- [Unavailable in MENA] Flow: A new paid video generation tool designed for AI filmmakers and creative professionals. Flow brings together the best capabilities of Google's generative AI models, specifically Veo, Imagen, and Gemini, into a unified interface for video creation.
