Google AI Labs Explained: Tools, Access and Status

Written by: Content & GEO Research

Fastlook Team

Posted: 10/11/20267 min readUpdated: 09/11/2026

Understanding google ai labs is the foundation for the guidance that follows. Google Labs is where Google tests AI products before they reach the mainstream, and in 2026 it spans tools from Flow and Opal to Gemini Notebook. Many experiments are free with a Google account, but others sit behind paid plans, waitlists or retirement dates. This page separates the 2002 Labs from the 2023 relaunch and lists what each tool does, what Google has reported about its usage, and what is closing.

Quick answer

Google Labs is Google's program for developing and testing AI products with users. Through it, users get early access to experiments. Feedback from those users helps decide which experimental tools graduate into mainstream Google products.

Topic: google ai labs
Last updated: Nov 9, 2026
Read time: 7 min

Key Takeaways

Google Labs is the program Google uses to develop and test AI products inside the company.
The current lineup covers creative, development and research work.
Most Google Labs experiments are free with a Google account, according to AI Chat Daily's Google Labs review updated April 24, 2026.
The first Google Labs launched in 2002 as a platform for experimental products.
Graduation and retirement are both normal outcomes for a Google Labs experiment, and the mix is worth tracking. For instance, according to ai.engineer, Google introduced the modern public Labs in 2023, drawing inspiration from the original Google Labs.

How it works: landing page

1
Key Takeaways
2
What google ai labs is and why Google runs it
3
Which google ai labs tools are available in 2026?
4
Is google ai labs free, or do experiments need a paid plan?
5
How the 2002 Google Labs differed from today's program
6
Which google ai labs experiments graduated, and which are closing?

What google ai labs is and why Google runs it

Google Labs is the program Google uses to develop and test AI products inside the company. It gives users early access and a channel to shape how those products evolve. According to ai.engineer, the modern Google Labs was introduced in 2023, drawing inspiration from the original Google Labs. Its core function is experimentation. Specifically, a Google Labs tool that proves useful can graduate into a mainstream Google product. However, a tool that does not prove useful can be dropped.

Early access for users to test new AI products
A channel for feedback that shapes how tools evolve
A path for useful tools to graduate into mainstream products

Josh Woodward now leads Google Labs alongside the Gemini app and AI Studio, according to ai.engineer. Current Google Labs experiments include Flow, Stitch, Jules, Opal and Gemini Notebook. For teams tracking Google's AI direction, Google Labs is the earliest public signal. Specifically, it shows which tools may reach Search, Workspace or Gemini next.

google ai labs — by the numbers

2023

Engineer, Google introduced the modern public Labs in, drawing…

30 million

Engineer, Gemini Notebook was used by more than people and over 600,000…

1.5 billion

Engineer, Flow users had created over images and videos by February…

2002

Google Labs was originally launched in as a platform for experimental…

Which google ai labs tools are available in 2026?

The current lineup covers creative, development and research work. Each tool has a distinct role, and most are still experimental.

Tool	What it does	Reported detail
Flow	Image generation, video creation and editing	Users created over 1.5 billion images and videos by February 2026 (ai.engineer)
Flow Music	Helps users create original songs	Not publicly documented
Pomelli	Produces marketing content aligned with a business's brand	Not publicly documented
Stitch	Turns natural-language ideas into interface designs	Not publicly documented
Jules	Automates coding tasks such as bug fixes, tests and new features	Not publicly documented
Opal	Converts natural-language instructions into editable visual workflows linking prompts, models and tools	Not publicly documented
Gemini Notebook	Grounds research in a user's own sources, with cloud code execution	Used by more than 30 million people and 600,000+ organizations as of July 2026 (ai.engineer)

Gemini Notebook was formerly called NotebookLM and began as Project Tailwind (ai.engineer). According to Google as reported by ai.engineer, Gemini Notebook was used by more than 30 million people and over 600,000 organizations in July 2026.

Is google ai labs free, or do experiments need a paid plan?

Most Google Labs experiments are free with a Google account, according to AI Chat Daily's Google Labs review updated April 24, 2026. However, some features may require a Google One AI Premium subscription as they near launch.

Specifically, a free Google Labs experiment today can become a paid feature later. Access also varies across Google Labs experiments. For example, some experiments use waitlists, and availability can depend on region and account type. Before building a workflow around any Google Labs tool, check that tool's page.

Terms can change between a preview and general release, so verify them first. According to Wikipedia's Google Labs article, Google Labs was originally launched in 2002 as a platform for experimental products and hosted previews of Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Wave.

How the 2002 Google Labs differed from today's program

The first Google Labs launched in 2002 as a platform for experimental products. It hosted previews of Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Wave, according to Wikipedia.

Google announced in July 2011 that it would discontinue the original Google Labs. The goal was to prioritize fewer products, according to Wikipedia.

Google revived the Labs branding in 2023 during its annual I/O keynote. The revival was tied to its expansion into generative AI, with the website at labs.google.

The 2002 program focused on previewing general web products. However, the 2023 program centers on generative AI tools that users can test and steer.

Which google ai labs experiments graduated, and which are closing?

Graduation and retirement are both normal outcomes for a Google Labs experiment, and the mix is worth tracking. Whisk, a Google Labs image tool, was closing on April 30, 2026, according to a WhiskAI Labs guide.

Graduated tools move into mainstream Google products.
Retired tools are discontinued, sometimes with a closing date.
Ongoing previews may still change before general release.

Google has not given a public list of graduations in the sources reviewed. Specifically, any claim that a tool has moved into a mainstream product should be verified against Google's own announcements. Treat a Google Labs tool as a preview: export work regularly and do not assume a feature will persist into a general release.

Where google ai labs fits for teams planning around AI search

Google Labs previews show where Google's AI features are heading, which matters for marketing and SEO teams watching how answers are generated. Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM and begun as Project Tailwind, grounds research in a user's own sources. According to ai.engineer, it also provides a secure cloud computer that enables code execution.

This reflects a shift toward answers built from cited material, which AI answer engines reward. Track which Google Labs experiments reach Search, Workspace or Gemini, and review retirement dates before depending on any single tool. For visibility across ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, a monitoring setup such as Fastlook's Citation Analytics can show where your brand appears as these features change.

Sources & further reading

The specific figures and claims on this page are grounded in the following sources, reviewed at the time of writing:

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What is google ai labs?

Google Labs is Google's program for developing and testing AI products with users. Through it, users get early access to experiments. Feedback from those users helps decide which experimental tools graduate into mainstream Google products. **The modern Google Labs program was introduced in 2023**. It draws on the original Google Labs name from 2002, which hosted products like Gmail and Google Calendar.

Is google ai labs free to use?

Most Google Labs experiments are free with a Google account, according to AI Chat Daily's review updated April 24, 2026. However, some features may require a Google One AI Premium plan as they approach launch. Some experiments also use waitlists before access opens.

What are the main google ai labs tools in 2026?

**The main Google Labs tools include Flow**, which handles image and video creation and editing. Opal is another Google Labs tool, and it translates natural-language instructions into editable visual workflows. Specifically, Stitch turns natural-language ideas into interface designs. Meanwhile, Jules automates coding tasks such as bug fixes, tests and new features. However, Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, is the tool that grounds research in a user's own sources. Flow Music, Pomelli and Project Tailwind round out the lineup in the sources reviewed.

How many people use Gemini Notebook?

According to ai.engineer, Google reported that Gemini Notebook was used by more than 30 million people and over 600,**000 organizations in July 2026**. Specifically, Gemini Notebook began as Project Tailwind. However, it was previously named NotebookLM.

How many images and videos has Flow created?

According to ai.engineer, Google reported that Flow users had created over 1.5 billion images and videos by February 2026. That total is cumulative since Flow's 2025 launch. Flow combines image generation, video creation and editing. For example, the figure reflects every image and video made with Flow since launch, as reported by ai.engineer.

Which google ai labs tools are being discontinued?

Whisk, a Google Labs image tool, was closing on April 30, 2026, according to a WhiskAI Labs guide. Google has not published a complete retirement list in the sources reviewed, so check Google's announcements for other tools.

What was the original google labs?

The original Google Labs launched in 2002 as a platform for experimental products. It hosted previews of Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Wave, according to Wikipedia. Google announced in July 2011 that it would discontinue the original Google Labs to prioritize fewer products.

Did google ai labs replace google search?

No. Google Labs is a testing ground for AI products, not a replacement for Google Search. However, Google Labs previews often signal where Google's AI features are heading. For example, previews of tools like Gemini Notebook show how answers may be built. That is why teams track Google Labs previews alongside AI Overviews and assistant behavior.

Google Ai Labs