Over the weekend, Gemini app users on both Android and iOS experienced an unexpected issue: the 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental) model suddenly disappeared. Fortunately, the problem was identified as a bug, and by Monday morning, access to the model was restored. Let me walk you through the situation and what this means for the future of Gemini.
What Happened to Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking?
The Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental) model was a significant part of Google's AI advancements. It debuted in December 2024 and was made available as an experimental feature in the Gemini app by February 2025. This model brought a new layer of reasoning and efficiency, and it was especially useful for those subscribed to the Gemini Advanced plan, which allowed access to a large context window of 1 million tokens.
However, during the weekend of April 5, 2025, users of the Gemini app on Android and iOS lost access to this model. It simply vanished from the model picker, leaving only the stable 2.0 Flash model available. The experimental 2.0 Flash Thinking model, however, remained accessible on the web platform (gemini.google.com), which was a bit puzzling for many users.
Why Was Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Temporarily Unavailable?
The bug that caused this temporary disappearance was related to the app’s model picker on mobile. Despite the glitch, no changes were made to the actual model itself. As of Monday morning (April 7, 2025), Google began restoring access to the model for mobile users, and if you notice a "New" badge, it’s just a label – the model remains the same, labeled as gemini-2.0-flash-thinking-exp-01-21 in the AI Studio.
What’s Next for Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking?
It seems that 2.0 Flash remains the most stable model currently available in the Gemini app, with Flash Thinking being the next closest offering. It’s still unclear whether Google will make 2.0 Flash Thinking generally available, as their upcoming Gemini 2.5 release will likely include native support for thinking capabilities. Additionally, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking is already powering Deep Research, a key feature within the app.
As Google continues to evolve its Gemini platform, we can expect further updates. With the introduction of Gemini 2.5 on the horizon, we may see some exciting advancements that integrate more powerful reasoning features directly into the system.
The Future of Gemini: What's Coming?
Gemini’s potential to be one of the leading AI platforms hinges on how Google integrates it across different applications and devices. The excitement surrounding the upcoming Gemini 2.5 is palpable, especially with features like Gemini Live, which allows for camera and screen sharing on devices like the Pixel 9 and Samsung’s S25 series.
Additionally, Gemini’s ability to handle documents and files, such as in its recent update, suggests Google is pushing toward more versatile and robust AI tools. As someone deeply interested in Google's ecosystem, I’m curious to see where Gemini will go next, especially with AI-powered reasoning becoming a more integral part of the platform.
The return of Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental) marks an important moment for Google’s AI development, ensuring users have access to advanced reasoning features. Despite a small setback, Gemini’s journey toward becoming a top-tier AI platform is far from over. Whether you're using Gemini for research or exploring its advanced capabilities, the future looks incredibly promising.
Make sure to keep an eye out for updates and new features as Google continues to enhance the Gemini app.
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