As of October 28, 2026, Genie 4 is a research preview for trusted testers. Google says it will come to Project Genie starting with Google AI Ultra subscribers, and to early access partners of the Gemini API and Google AI Studio. Having Ultra does not mean you can use Genie 4 now, and access to Project Genie does not prove your account has switched to Genie 4. That is the rollout sequence described on Google DeepMind's model page, not an announcement of general availability.
If you want an explorable world that changes as you interact with it, follow Project Genie and Genie 4 access updates. If you need a video to watch now, consider a video tool such as Google Flow. They serve different tasks, and official demos alone cannot establish a quality comparison.
Model, product and API access
| Access route | Official status as of October 28, 2026 | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Genie 4 model | Research preview for trusted testers | General users should not assume they already have model access |
| Project Genie | The existing product is available to eligible Ultra subscribers; Genie 4 will come to Ultra subscribers there first | Product eligibility exists, but Genie 4 access remains a future rollout |
| Gemini API / Google AI Studio | Genie 4 is coming first to early access partners | Do not assume ordinary developers can call it, or that an Ultra subscription grants API access |
These distinctions come from the Genie 4 model page and Project Genie help. The model page offers a waitlist, but its access announcement gives no specific launch date or call specifications for general developers. Wait for an official update or access on your account before committing to an integration plan.
Already have Ultra? Check the entry point
As of October 28, 2026, Google's Project Genie help says the product is available to subscribers where Google AI Ultra is available. Users must be at least 18 and sign in with a personal Google Account. Google's documented path is:
- Open Project Genie and sign in with the personal Google Account that holds your Ultra subscription.
- Eligible subscribers should see the product landing screen after signing in; choose
Create with Project Genie. If you do not have access yet, the help page says you will be directed to the Google Labs information page and can still view the gallery of user-created worlds. - If you meet the conditions but cannot enter, check your account and age, then contact Google One support as directed by the help page if the issue persists. Once inside, check the model and features actually shown; subscription status alone does not establish Genie 4 access.
These are Google's documented access and troubleshooting steps. We did not sign in or generate a world for this article. Before buying a subscription, recheck regional availability, account eligibility and actual Genie 4 access.
Do current Project Genie limits apply to Genie 4?
Do not transfer them directly. The current Project Genie help page describes 60 seconds of exploration after creating a world, a video download after the experience and possible queues during high demand; its known issues also mention Genie 3. These are descriptions of the current product, not promises or specifications for Genie 4's rollout. The help page also says location grounding with Street View currently supports only policy-compliant US locations; that location restriction does not mean the entire product is available only in the US.
Separately, the Genie 4 model page says the model can support a few minutes of continuous interaction, but visual details and object permanence can drift over time or after complex edits, real locations are not simulated perfectly, and real-time audio accuracy remains under research. A model capability description does not promise the same session length or features in a future Project Genie product.
Interactive worlds or ordinary video?
| Your goal | A useful next step |
|---|---|
| Explore a world and observe changes in movement, camera or scene | Follow access updates on the Genie 4 model page; if eligible, check the actual Project Genie entry point and model identification. Google describes Genie 4 as a world model that can change scenes live using natural language. |
| Add interactive simulation to an application | Follow the model page's Gemini API / AI Studio early-partner access information. Do not plan a launch around unannounced model IDs, pricing or API parameters. |
| Make a video clip or scene to watch | Consider Google Flow. Google describes it as a tool for creating clips, scenes and stories; check your account, region, model and credits first. See Flow's official getting-started page and our Flow advertising workflow. |
Project Genie currently offers a download of the experience as video, but a viewing file and real-time interaction within a world are different deliverables. Decide which one you need, then check whether the relevant access route is open to your account.