Google is poised to virtually unveil its generative AI competitor to ChatGPT, known as Gemini, as early as this week, according to a report by The Information on Monday. The tech giant aims to outpace OpenAI while the Microsoft-backed company navigates the aftermath of a tumultuous board situation and the departure and subsequent return of Sam Altman.

The launch of Gemini has been delayed by Google, but it promises to be a substantial leap beyond its current offering, Bard, which failed to gain traction with consumers compared to ChatGPT. Gemini represents a robust AI model from a reliable company, which stands in stark contrast to OpenAI. While ChatGPT Plus signups remain on hold, and the much-anticipated GPT Store is still absent, Gemini is positioned to make a significant impact.

If the rumored virtual preview of Gemini this week materializes, it may be a scaled-down version of the originally planned full launch. CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly canceled a series of in-person Gemini launch events scheduled for early December due to concerns about its reliability in handling non-English queries, as reported by The Information.

Google’s generative AI efforts have faced challenges this year, and Gemini could alleviate some of that pressure. Investors are urging Google to release Gemini promptly to keep pace with Microsoft and OpenAI. However, the complete launch of Gemini is likely to occur sometime in 2024.

Gemini is a multi-modal AI, capable of handling image, voice, and text requests concurrently, similar to ChatGPT-4. It relies on reinforcement learning and excels at planning and problem-solving, as described by Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind, the division behind Gemini.