Google explains origin of 'Gemini' name

Google has been using the name "Gemini" for all its AI features since I/O 2023. This week, Google explained where the name came from.

The project was first called "Titan," named after Saturn’s largest moon. Jeff Dean, one of the project leaders, didn’t like this name much but was inspired by space and suggested "Gemini" instead.

"Gemini" means "twins" in Latin and refers to a constellation named after the mythological twins Castor and Pollux. Google chose this name because it represents adaptability and the merging of two teams—DeepMind and Google Research.

The name also honors NASA’s Project Gemini, which helped prepare for the Apollo moon landings. Jeff Dean suggested "Gemini" in a team document, and it was quickly accepted because it symbolized the ambitious nature of their AI work.

Google also considered naming models after stars, leading to names like Nano, Flash, Pro, and Ultra. By using "Gemini" for both the research project and the user-facing AI features, Google hopes to show continuous improvement and innovation to its users.