Updated 18 September 2026. Originally published in 2023; revised to replace outdated advice and links.
Bard was the name of Google’s conversational AI service when we first wrote about it in March 2023. Google renamed it Gemini in February 2024, so the old Bard waiting-list instructions no longer describe how to get started.
Read Google’s original renaming announcement for the historical detail. Its launch offers and model descriptions belong to that date, rather than being a current pricing guide.
What can an assistant help with?
Drafting an outline, exploring ideas or summarising material can be useful starting points. Check the result against reliable sources, especially when it concerns a customer, a technical specification or a business commitment. Confident wording is not proof that an answer is accurate.
Choose around the task
Before using any AI tool, consider what information you will provide, who can access it, the supplier’s terms and how output will be reviewed. Features, plans and account controls change, so compare the actual current product rather than a launch-era list.
A general assistant or a business-specific tool?
A general chat product is different from a system connected to your approved business information and processes. If you need something built around your work, explore inLIFE’s AI development services and our Metallisation project example.
