Google's AI Tier Breakdown
Google has renamed its AI products a few times, so here's the current state: Gemini is the consumer-facing brand, Workspace Gemini is the business integration, and Vertex AI is the enterprise platform. Each has different data policies, and the differences matter.
Free
Consumer Gemini: personal use only
$25-30
Workspace Gemini per user/mo add-on
Usage
Vertex AI: enterprise & regulated industries
Gemini (Free)
Free Gemini (at gemini.google.com) follows the same pattern as every other free AI tool: your conversations may be used for training and product improvement. Google's privacy notice states that human reviewers may read, annotate, and process conversations to improve Gemini.
There is an opt-out in your Google Account settings, but as with ChatGPT Plus, it's per-account and there's no way for an organization to enforce it. Free Gemini also stores conversations for up to 18 months by default.
WARNING
Free Gemini is not appropriate for any company data, client information, or internal communications. Human reviewers at Google may read your conversations.
Gemini for Google Workspace ($25-30/user/month add-on)
This is Google's answer to Microsoft 365 Copilot, and it's a completely different product from free Gemini. Key protections:
- Enterprise data protections: Your Workspace data is not used for model training. This is guaranteed at the organizational level.
- Workspace integration: Gemini works directly inside Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet. It can draft emails, summarize documents, create spreadsheets from natural language, and generate meeting notes.
- Admin controls: Managed through the Google Workspace Admin Console. You control who gets access, what data Gemini can access, and how it behaves.
- Compliance: Inherits your Workspace's compliance posture. If your Workspace is configured for SOC 2 or other certifications, Gemini operates within that framework.
PREREQUISITES
Gemini for Workspace is an add-on to existing Workspace plans. You need Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, or Enterprise Plus as a base. It's not available on the Workspace Starter plan.
Vertex AI (usage-based pricing)
Vertex AI is Google's enterprise ML and AI platform on Google Cloud. It's not a consumer product. It's infrastructure for building and running AI applications. But for businesses that need the highest level of data protection, it's one of the strongest options out there.
- Zero data retention: You can configure Vertex AI endpoints with a zero-data-retention policy. Prompts and responses are processed and discarded.
- HIPAA eligible: Vertex AI is covered under Google Cloud's BAA. This makes it one of the few AI platforms where you can process Protected Health Information.
- GDPR compliant: Full data processing agreements, data residency controls, and EU-based processing options.
- Customer-managed encryption: You can use your own encryption keys (CMEK) for data at rest and in transit.
- VPC Service Controls: Network-level isolation to prevent data exfiltration.
Why Vertex AI Stands Out
Vertex AI is one of the few AI platforms that is genuinely HIPAA-eligible with a Google Cloud BAA, making it a top choice for healthcare organizations.
What that means practically: if you're a dental practice, medical office, or healthcare provider that wants to use AI to:
- Summarize patient notes
- Draft referral letters
- Analyze clinical data
- Automate appointment follow-ups with patient context
You need a platform with a BAA. Vertex AI provides that, along with the compliance infrastructure (audit logging, access controls, encryption) required to actually maintain HIPAA compliance in practice.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Vertex AI requires Google Cloud infrastructure and someone technical to set it up. It's not a "sign up and start chatting" product. You'll need either internal dev resources or a consulting partner to get it running. For a deeper look at HIPAA-compliant options, see our HIPAA-Compliant AI guide.
The Google Workspace Advantage
If your business already runs on Google Workspace, adding Gemini is the path of least resistance. No new vendor relationship, no additional SSO configuration, no separate admin console. It plugs into the tools your team already uses.
But make sure you understand the difference between consumer Gemini and Workspace Gemini:
Consumer Gemini (Free)
Personal Google accounts
- ✗ Data used for training by default
- ✗ Human reviewers may read conversations
- ✗ No admin controls
- ✗ No BAA available
- ✗ Conversations stored up to 18 months
Workspace Gemini ($25-30/user/mo)
Google Workspace add-on
- ✓ Data not used for model training
- ✓ Full Workspace Admin Console controls
- ✓ Inherits Workspace compliance posture
- ✓ Integrates with Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet
- ✓ Organizational-level data protections
| Feature | Consumer Gemini | Workspace Gemini | Vertex AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data training | Yes (default) | No | No (ZDR option) |
| Admin controls | None | Full (Workspace Admin) | Full (Google Cloud) |
| BAA available | No | No | Yes |
| Cost | Free | $25-30/user/mo | Usage-based |
| Best for | Personal use | Google Workspace teams | Regulated industries, custom apps |
The risk is the same as with Microsoft Copilot: employees using consumer Gemini through personal accounts will assume it has the same protections as the business version. It doesn't.
BOTTOM LINE
A clear AI acceptable use policy and shadow AI awareness training should go hand-in-hand with any Workspace Gemini rollout. Compare Google's options against other providers in our Provider Privacy Matrix, or take our AI Readiness Assessment for a personalized recommendation.