Alphabet's Google has recently unveiled updates to its Gemini family of large language models (LLMs), including a new low-cost product line designed to compete with budget AI models such as those from Chinese rival DeepSeek.

Google's AI offerings include various versions of Gemini tailored for different performance and pricing needs. While it had already introduced a lightweight variant known as "Flash," the new "Flash-Lite" model is designed to be even more cost-efficient.

Alongside this, the company has released Gemini 2.0 Flash to the general public after initially previewing it to developers in December. A new version of its flagship "Pro" model has also entered testing.

This development comes as the tech industry faces increasing scrutiny over the costs associated with developing and deploying AI. The rising costs of AI development have become a focal point for investors, particularly following DeepSeek's claim that it spent less than $6 million on the final training run of a model.