December 2023: Gemini arrives from Google
Covers December 2023. Part of our search timeline: a month-by-month look at the changes that shaped SEO, AI search, paid ads and social media, written in November 2026 for local businesses with the benefit of hindsight.
Quick answer: Google unveiled Gemini in December 2023, describing it as its most capable family of AI models, built to handle text, images, audio and code. Gemini later came to power Google’s AI products, AI Overviews and AI Mode in Search among them, which puts it at the heart of how lots of people now find answers.
This part of our search timeline, written in November 2026, revisits December 2023. For a local plumber, electrician or landscaper, it was the point where it became clear Google’s AI would increasingly be the thing describing your business to customers.
What Google announced
Gemini arrived in three sizes: Ultra, Pro and Nano. Google started using it in Bard and other products straight away. It was designed to be multimodal from day one, meaning it could work across different types of content rather than text alone.
Why Gemini mattered to small businesses
Gemini was a sign that Google search would become more and more driven by AI. Getting Google’s AI to understand your business, through clear content and well-organised information, became just as important as ranking.
If a boiler engineer in Dundee lists different service areas on their website and their Google Business Profile, for example, an AI model has mixed signals to work from.
What to do about it now
- Make your content simple for AI to read, with clear headings, direct answers and structured data.
- Keep your business details the same across your website and Google Business Profile.
- Ask Gemini questions about your services and your competitors, and see how it answers.
Frequently asked questions
Are Gemini and Google Search the same thing?
No. Gemini is the name of Google’s AI model and its app, and the same technology runs the AI features inside Google Search.
How can my business show up in Gemini’s answers?
In the same way as with other AI tools: useful content, a site that’s technically easy to access and a good reputation on trusted websites.
Sources and further reading
Want help with this? Our AI search and GEO service helps Google’s AI understand and recommend your business. Get in touch.
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