April 18, 2025 – Google has officially entered the fiercely competitive higher education AI services market, as reported by The Verge. Starting immediately, U.S. college students can enjoy a free subscription to One AI Premium until June 30, 2026, bypassing the standard $20 monthly fee.
Google spokesperson Alex Joseph clarified that interested students must register by June 30, 2025, and verify their eligibility using a valid .edu email address. He assured that Google would notify subscribers well in advance of the plan’s expiration, giving them ample time to cancel if desired.
This subscription package offers not only 2TB of cloud storage but also a suite of AI-powered tools designed to enhance academic productivity. Among these is Gemini Advanced, powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro, which positions itself as a flagship product to rival ChatGPT Plus. Additionally, Gemini Deep Research aids in distilling complex topics into concise summaries and even transforms reports into podcast-style audio formats.
Subscribers gain access to NotebookLM Plus, featuring advanced study aids and audio summarization capabilities, along with seamless integration of the Gemini assistant into Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Furthermore, Google has introduced innovative tools such as Veo 2, a text-to-video model, and Whisk, a creative tool that generates new content from blended text and image prompts.
In response to Google’s move, OpenAI and Anthropic have recently announced similar free trial programs for university students, aiming to secure their share of the lucrative academic market. With AI emerging as a significant challenge to Google’s search business, the company is determined not to miss out on this opportunity.
