Google has announced the global expansion of its more affordable Google AI Plus subscription, making it available in all markets where its AI plans are offered, including 35 new countries and territories. This strategic move aims to lower the barrier to entry for advanced AI tools, targeting a broader user base beyond early adopters and enterprise clients.
A New Tier for AI Access
Priced at $7.99 per month in the U.S., the AI Plus plan is positioned as a compelling entry point for users looking to move beyond free AI services. The subscription includes access to the powerful Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro models within the Gemini app, AI-powered filmmaking tools from Flow, and research and writing assistance in NotebookLM.
Subscribers also receive 200GB of cloud storage and the ability to share plan benefits with up to five other family members, adding significant value to the offering. Google has confirmed that existing Google One Premium 2TB subscribers will automatically receive all the benefits of the AI Plus plan in the coming days.
Targeting Global and Emerging Markets
Initially launched in emerging markets like Indonesia last September, the plan was designed to make creative AI tools more accessible at a competitive price point. The cost varies by region to reflect local purchasing power, with prices often below $5 per month in markets such as India, where it costs ₹399 ($4.44 USD).
This global rollout positions the AI Plus plan as a direct competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Go, which shares a similar price structure. By offering a more affordable tier, Google aims to attract a large volume of online users who could become regular AI customers, significantly boosting its AI adoption metrics and solidifying its user base. To further incentivize sign-ups, Google is offering a promotional 50% discount for the first two months.
Implications for the MENA Tech Ecosystem
For the MENA region’s founders, developers, and tech professionals, Google’s move presents both opportunities and competitive pressure. The increased accessibility of advanced AI models like Gemini 3 Pro at a lower cost can empower startups and SMEs to integrate sophisticated AI capabilities into their products and workflows without a significant financial commitment. This could accelerate innovation in areas like content creation, data analysis, and customer service automation across the region.
Furthermore, the availability of powerful, low-cost AI tools could fuel a new wave of AI-native applications developed within MENA, allowing local talent to build and scale solutions for regional challenges. For VCs, this signals a maturing market where AI infrastructure is becoming a utility, shifting the investment focus towards startups that demonstrate unique applications of these technologies rather than building foundational models from scratch.
About Google
Google is a global technology company specializing in Internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware. A subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Source: TechCrunch
