Gemini Notebook is moving to compute-based usage limits, applying the same model Google rolled out for the Gemini app earlier this year. The change takes effect in September and replaces the fixed number of daily feature generations that varied by Google AI tier.
Under the new approach, limits will refresh every five hours rather than resetting once per day. Google says overall usage will account for several variables at once, including prompt complexity, chat length, the number of sources in a notebook, and which features you use. The shift aligns Gemini Notebook with the app-wide system Google introduced in May.
How the New Usage System Works
To help users stay informed, Gemini Notebook will display status messages directly below the chat. One notice reads, “You’re almost at your AI usage limit. Limit resets at 3:00 PM,” while another states, “Limit reached. All features are available after 3:00 PM.” These messages give a clear indication of remaining capacity and when access returns.
A separate indicator will appear at the bottom of Studio generations to signal the expected AI usage cost. According to Google, the more the bar is filled in, the higher the expected cost of that particular generation. This lets users gauge how demanding an output will be before committing to it.
Alternative Outputs and Deferred Generation
When a request exceeds your available limit, Gemini Notebook will suggest alternative outputs so you can still get results without hitting a wall. There is also a Generate later option that defers resource-heavy tasks such as Video Overviews or Slide Decks. Google will automatically create these outputs once your limit resets. The deferred generation feature arrives on the web first.
The amount of compute available scales with your subscription level. Accounts without a plan receive standard limits. Google AI Plus subscribers get limits that are 2x higher than standard, while Google AI Pro users receive limits 4x higher than standard. Google AI Ultra customers get either 5x or 20x higher than AI Pro, depending on the specific subscription.
Rollout Timeline
The new compute-based usage limits begin reaching consumer accounts on both web and mobile on September 2. The rollout mirrors the transition already completed for the main Gemini app, extending a consistent measurement of AI consumption across Google’s tools.
The five-hour refresh cycle marks a notable departure from the previous daily reset structure, changing how frequently users regain full access to Notebook features throughout the day.
Source
Image: 9to5google.com
