google to appeal part of us court ruling in doj monopoly case

Google One Hits 150 Million Subscribers, Driven by Surge in AI-Based Plans

by

May 15, 2025 — Google has surpassed a major milestone with its Google One subscription service, crossing 150 million subscribers globally, thanks in large part to growing demand for artificial intelligence features, the company confirmed to Reuters.

google to appeal part of us court ruling in doj monopoly case

This marks a 50% increase in subscribers since February 2024, when the service first crossed the 100 million mark—nearly six years after its initial launch. The sharp rise follows the introduction of a $19.99/month AI-powered premium plan, launched in early 2024, which provides users with exclusive access to generative AI capabilities not available to free users.

AI-Powered Upsurge

According to Shimrit Ben-Yair, Vice President overseeing Google One, the new AI subscription tier has attracted “millions” of users since its rollout. While Google still offers lower-tier plans focused on cloud storage, the AI-centric offering has emerged as a key growth engine, reflecting strong consumer appetite for next-gen digital tools.

The AI features offered through Google One reportedly include access to Gemini, Google’s conversational AI model, alongside other productivity-enhancing tools integrated into Docs, Gmail, and Drive.

Diversifying Beyond Ads

The success of Google One forms part of Alphabet’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on advertising, which still made up over 75% of its $350 billion revenue in 2024. The shift is also seen as a strategic move to counter threats from competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Apple’s forthcoming AI-powered search tools.

The rise of AI interfaces has disrupted traditional search behavior, with an Apple executive recently revealing that search activity via Safari declined for the first time ever due to AI chatbots—posing a significant challenge to Google’s search dominance.

In a February earnings call, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai hinted at the company’s evolving monetization approach:
“Just like you’ve seen with YouTube, we’ll give people options over time… For this year, I think you’ll see us be focused on the subscription direction.”

Future of AI Monetization

While traditional search engines remain deeply intertwined with advertising models, AI products have yet to integrate ads in a seamless, scalable way. This has led major players, including Google, to experiment with subscription-based monetization for AI tools—an area that may define the next chapter of the tech giant’s business evolution.

With Google One’s user base surging and Gemini integrations expanding across services, Alphabet appears to be laying the groundwork for a subscription-led AI ecosystem.

Author Profile

Ganpat Singh Chouhan
Ganpat Singh Chouhan
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.