In a major update to Google Gemini, the tech giant is rolling out the ability for free-tier users to upload and analyze files, a feature previously exclusive to paid Gemini Advanced subscribers.
New Features for Free Gemini Users
Starting this week, free users of Gemini will see a prompt saying “Upload files to get quick summaries and actionable insights”.
This new option will allow users to upload documents, ask questions, and get summaries or insights on the content.
The feature can be accessed through both the Gemini Android app and gemini.google.com. Once rolled out, users can tap on the ‘plus’ menu where Files and Drive will join options like Camera and Gallery.
Supported File Formats
Gemini now supports a variety of file types, including:
- Text files: TXT
- Code files: C, C++, Python, Java, PHP, SQL, HTML
- Document files: DOC, DOCX, PDF, RTF, DOT, DOTX, HWP, HWPX
- Google Docs files
- Tabular data: CSV, TSV
- Spreadsheet files: XLS, XLSX, and Google Sheets
This expands Gemini’s capabilities, allowing users to easily analyze spreadsheets for insights or ask Gemini to generate charts based on the data.
How the Feature Works
Once uploaded, users can interact with their files by asking Gemini specific questions or requesting detailed summaries.
This is essentially a form of advanced search that provides actionable insights on the content of documents.
For instance, users can upload a PDF and ask, “What are the key points of this document?” or upload a spreadsheet and ask for a data analysis to generate charts.
Additional Features for Advanced Subscribers
Although the file upload feature is rolling out for free users, some features remain exclusive to Gemini Advanced. These include:
- Deep Research
- Custom Gems
- Saved Info
- Recall
Furthermore, users of the free tier can only upload and analyze files through Gemini 2.0 Flash, as the Gemini 1.5 Flash model will soon be discontinued.
Rolling Out Gradually
Google has started the rollout this evening, but the feature is not yet available to everyone.
The company has not yet updated its support documentation, so it’s unclear how large the context window will be for free Gemini users (it’s 1 million tokens for Gemini Advanced).
With this new functionality, Gemini is becoming an even more powerful tool for personal and professional use, offering easy access to document analysis and insights for a wider audience.
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