Is Google AI Ultra for Business Still Available for Google Workspace Business Starter?

QUICK ANSWER

Google AI Ultra for Business—later called AI Ultra Access—is no longer available for purchase. For customers on flexible billing plans, Google transitioned the add-on to AI Expanded Access on July 7, 2026. Existing annual or fixed-term subscriptions purchased before May 5, 2026 may continue working until their first renewal after July 7, 2026.

Google Workspace Business Starter itself remains active, but it no longer provides a way to purchase AI Ultra Access. Business Starter is also not currently listed as eligible for a new AI Expanded Access subscription. Administrators should check their billing plan and assigned licenses in the Google Admin console to determine the account’s exact status.

 

What happened to Google AI Ultra for Business?

Google introduced Google AI Ultra for Business in June 2025 as an optional add-on for eligible Google Workspace editions. It provided high usage limits and access to advanced services such as:

• The Gemini app with access to advanced models
• Gemini Notebook
• Google Flow and monthly AI credits
• Google Antigravity
• Gemini CLI
• Gemini Code Assist
• Advanced image and video generation
• Gemini features in Workspace applications

Google subsequently renamed the product AI Ultra Access for most Workspace customers.

Google is now removing AI Ultra Access as a Workspace offering. New subscriptions are no longer available, and existing subscriptions are being transitioned or cancelled according to their billing arrangements.

This change applies to the Workspace add-on. It does not mean that Google Workspace Business Starter itself has been discontinued.

Is AI Ultra Access still working on Business Starter?

The answer depends on the subscription type and renewal date.

Therefore, AI Ultra Access may appear to be working temporarily on a Business Starter account if it was purchased on an eligible annual or fixed-term agreement before May 5, 2026 and that agreement has not yet reached its applicable renewal date.

For most other Business Starter customers, the Workspace AI Ultra offering is no longer active.

Important transition dates

May 5, 2026

Only customers who purchased AI Ultra Access with an annual or fixed-term plan before this date may temporarily retain access.

New purchases are no longer available.

July 7, 2026

Google transitioned AI Ultra Access licenses for flexible-plan Workspace Business, Enterprise, and G Suite Legacy customers to AI Expanded Access.

For annual or fixed-term plans, the transition occurs at the next subscription renewal after July 7, 2026.

After the applicable transition

Users lose AI Ultra-specific access to certain products and higher usage limits. Some data and standard Workspace AI functionality may remain available, depending on the organization’s Workspace edition and replacement subscription.

How to verify your subscription status

A Google Workspace administrator should verify the subscription in the Admin console rather than relying only on what individual applications display.

Check the Workspace subscription

1. Sign in to the Google Admin console using a super administrator or billing administrator account.
2. Open Billing.
3. Select Subscriptions.
4. Look for one of the following names:
   • AI Ultra Access
   • Google AI Ultra for Business
   • AI Expanded Access
5. Check the subscription status, payment plan, renewal date and number of assigned licences.
6. Open the licence-assignment information to confirm which users currently have access.

Menu names may vary as Google updates the Admin console.

Confirm whether the account uses flexible or annual billing

The billing plan determines when access changes:

• A flexible-plan subscription should have transitioned on July 7, 2026.
• An annual or fixed-term subscription purchased before May 5, 2026 may continue until its next renewal after July 7, 2026.
• An offline agreement may follow separately negotiated terms.

If the subscription information is unclear, contact Google Workspace Support or the reseller that supplied the subscription.

Test the affected services

An administrator or licensed user can also check whether the following services still recognize the account’s premium entitlement:

• Google Flow
• Google Antigravity
• Gemini CLI
• Gemini Code Assist
• Gemini app
• Gemini Notebook
• Gemini features in Workspace applications

Seeing an application does not necessarily confirm an active AI Ultra licence. Users may still have standard access with lower limits through their Workspace edition, a promotional allowance, another subscription or a free service tier.

What happens to AI Ultra features?

After the transition, several AI Ultra benefits may disappear or operate with lower limits.

Google Flow

Google states that AI Expanded Access no longer includes Google Flow beginning July 7, 2026. Workspace users can still generate video through supported features in the Gemini app and Google Vids, subject to their edition, administrator settings and usage limits.

If users need files previously created in Flow, they should verify access and export important content. Google identifies Google Takeout as an export option, but an administrator may need to enable Takeout for the organization.

Google Antigravity

AI Ultra Access no longer provides continuing access to Google Antigravity after the applicable transition. Google recommends considering the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform for continued access.

Gemini CLI and Gemini Code Assist

Google recommends Gemini Enterprise Standard or Plus for organizations that need continuing access to Gemini CLI and Gemini Code Assist capabilities previously associated with AI Ultra Access.

Do not assume that a standard Workspace or AI Expanded Access licence provides the same developer-tool entitlement.

Gemini app and Gemini Notebook

The Gemini app and Gemini Notebook may remain available through the underlying Workspace edition, but access levels, model availability and usage limits may differ from the former AI Ultra entitlement.

Gemini features in Workspace applications

Some AI functionality in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Drive and Vids is included with certain Workspace editions. However, Business Starter has lower limits and does not include every advanced feature available with Business Standard, Business Plus or an eligible add-on.

Can Business Starter purchase AI Expanded Access?

Google’s current AI Expanded Access eligibility documentation lists these supported editions:

• Business Standard
• Business Plus
• Enterprise Standard
• Enterprise Plus

Business Starter is not included in the current eligibility list for new AI Expanded Access purchases.

Google’s AI Ultra transition documentation separately states that affected Workspace Business customers are automatically transitioned to AI Expanded Access according to their billing plan. Because the transition documentation covers existing customers while the eligibility page governs current purchases, organizations with a former AI Ultra Access licence on Business Starter should verify the resulting subscription directly in the Admin console.

Do not upgrade or purchase another edition based only on the old AI Ultra feature list. Compare the current feature limits and confirm that the replacement supports the specific tools your users require.

Available alternatives

There is no single replacement that reproduces every feature previously bundled with Google AI Ultra for Business.

A personal Google AI Ultra subscription is separate from the discontinued Workspace add-on. It may use different terms, data protections, billing, administration and service availability.

Organizations should not use personal subscriptions for confidential business information unless their security, compliance and data-governance policies explicitly permit it.

Recommended migration procedure for administrators

1. Inventory current usage

Identify which users have AI Ultra Access and determine which services they actually use. Pay particular attention to:

• Google Flow projects
• Antigravity conversations and artifacts
• Gemini CLI
• Gemini Code Assist
• Gemini Notebook
• Advanced Gemini app models
• AI-generated media
• Workspace AI workflows

2. Check the billing plan and renewal date

Confirm whether the organization uses a flexible, annual, fixed-term or offline agreement. This establishes when the AI Ultra transition applies.

3. Export important data

Before access changes, ask users to export or securely preserve any business-critical content.

Google states that:

• Workspace, Gemini app and Gemini Notebook data can be exported using Workspace data-export tools.
• Flow data can be exported using Google Takeout when the service and administrator settings permit it.
• Antigravity conversations and artifacts are stored locally by default under ~/.gemini/antigravity/.
• Gemini CLI data can be exported using the supported sharing function documented by Google.

Administrators should test exports before relying on them for retention or compliance.

4. Match requirements to replacement products

Do not treat AI Expanded Access as a complete replacement for AI Ultra Access. For example, it does not provide continued Google Flow access after July 7, 2026.

Select products according to the organization’s actual requirements:

• Workspace productivity features
• Image or video generation
• Development tools
• Agentic tools
• Notebook and research limits
• Centralized administration
• Security and compliance controls

5. Review licensing and data protection

Check:

• Per-user licence assignments
• Regional availability
• Age restrictions
• Usage limits
• Data-retention requirements
• Whether a service is a Workspace core service or an additional service
• Whether prompts or interactions may be used to improve models
• Administrator controls for enabling or disabling services

Google states that the Gemini app, Gemini Notebook and Gemini features in Workspace are core services under Google Workspace terms. Other products can have separate terms.

6. Notify affected users

Explain which tools will stop working, which will remain available with lower limits and what replacement users should use. Provide a deadline for exporting important data.

7. Verify access after migration

After the transition or subscription change:

1. Confirm the replacement subscription in the Admin console.
2. Assign the required licences.
3. Verify service settings for organizational units and groups.
4. Test each required application with a licensed user.
5. Review billing to ensure that obsolete or duplicate subscriptions are not being charged.

Troubleshooting

AI Ultra Access is still shown in the Admin console

Check the subscription’s payment plan and renewal date. An annual or fixed-term subscription purchased before May 5, 2026 may remain active until its next renewal after July 7, 2026.

If the renewal date has passed, contact Google Workspace Support or the reseller.

The user can open an application but receives free-tier limits

The application may be available independently of the former AI Ultra licence. Opening it does not prove that premium limits are active.

Verify the assigned licence, account used for sign-in and current entitlement shown by the service.

AI Expanded Access cannot be purchased on Business Starter

This is expected under Google’s current eligibility rules. New AI Expanded Access purchases require Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard or Enterprise Plus.

Review whether upgrading Workspace is appropriate before changing plans.

Flow no longer shows the previous credits

AI Ultra Access previously supplied monthly Flow credits. Google states that those credits were available only until July 7, 2026. AI Expanded Access no longer includes Google Flow.

Gemini CLI or Code Assist no longer recognizes the subscription

The former Workspace AI Ultra entitlement may have ended. Google recommends evaluating Gemini Enterprise Standard or Plus for continued organizational access to these developer tools.

Features differ between two users

Check whether both users:

• Use accounts in the same Workspace organization
• Have the same Workspace edition
• Have the same add-on licence
• Belong to the same organizational unit or access group
• Have the relevant service enabled
• Are in supported countries and meet age requirements
• Have reached a feature-specific usage limit

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google AI Ultra for Business completely discontinued?

The Workspace add-on is being removed and is no longer available for purchase. Existing qualifying annual or fixed-term customers may temporarily retain it until their applicable renewal. The consumer Google AI Ultra subscription is a separate product and is not affected by this Workspace change.

Does Google Workspace Business Starter still work?

Yes. Business Starter itself remains available. The discontinued product is the optional Google AI Ultra for Business or AI Ultra Access add-on.

Can I purchase AI Ultra Access for a new Business Starter account?

No. Google no longer permits new AI Ultra Access purchases.

Why is AI Ultra still working on my Business Starter account?

You may have an annual or fixed-term subscription purchased before May 5, 2026 that has not yet reached its first renewal after July 7, 2026. Check the renewal date in the Admin console.

Will Business Starter automatically receive AI Expanded Access?

Google’s transition documentation says affected Workspace Business subscriptions transition automatically according to their billing plan. However, the current eligibility page does not list Business Starter for new AI Expanded Access purchases. Existing Business Starter customers should confirm the resulting subscription in the Admin console or with Google Workspace Support.

Does AI Expanded Access include Google Flow?

No. Google states that AI Expanded Access stopped including Google Flow on July 7, 2026.

Will I lose access to content created with AI Ultra?

Not necessarily, but access depends on the service. Export important content before the transition. Workspace data-export tools, Google Takeout and service-specific export methods may be available.

Can I buy consumer Google AI Ultra for a Workspace account?

The consumer plan is separate from the Workspace add-on and is intended for personal Google accounts. It should not be treated as an equivalent centrally managed business licence.

What replaces Gemini CLI and Gemini Code Assist access?

Google recommends evaluating Gemini Enterprise Standard or Plus for organizations requiring continued access to these developer capabilities.

What should I do if Google is still charging for AI Ultra Access?

Check the subscription, billing plan and renewal date in the Admin console. If the charge does not match the documented transition, contact Google Workspace Support, your Google Account Manager or the reseller responsible for the subscription.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION / CONCLUSION

Google AI Ultra for Business is no longer a current Workspace product. Most flexible-plan customers were transitioned on July 7, 2026, while qualifying annual or fixed-term subscriptions may continue only until their applicable renewal.

Business Starter customers should verify their billing plan, renewal date and assigned licences in the Google Admin console. Because Business Starter is not currently eligible for a new AI Expanded Access purchase, organizations needing higher Workspace AI limits may need to evaluate Business Standard or Business Plus. Requirements involving Flow, Antigravity, Gemini CLI or Gemini Code Assist must be assessed separately because AI Expanded Access does not replace every former AI Ultra feature.

Before making changes, export important data, compare current feature limits and confirm that the selected replacement meets the organization’s security, administration and compliance requirements.

 

#GoogleAIUltra #GoogleAIUltraForBusiness #AIUltraAccess #GoogleWorkspace #BusinessStarter #GoogleGemini #AIExpandedAccess #GeminiEnterprise #GoogleFlow #GoogleAntigravity #GeminiCLI #GeminiCodeAssist #WorkspaceAdmin #GoogleWorkspaceAI #AITroubleshooting #ITAdministration #CloudServices #Knowledgebase

SOURCES

• Google Workspace Help: AI Ultra Access
• Google Workspace Help: AI Expanded Access
• Google Workspace Learning Center: AI Expanded Access
• Google Workspace Updates: Introducing Google AI Ultra for Business