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Technology · Artificial intelligence · published 2026-08-28 · via ZDNET

Three legitimate paths to a free year of Google AI Pro, worth $240

Google is offering its AI Pro subscription, normally $19.99 per month, for free to certain users. College students can get a full year by verifying their enrollment, while buyers of select Chromebook Plus, Chromebook, or Pixel 11 devices receive 3 to 12 months of free access. These offers provide access to premium models, expanded usage limits, and additional perks like 5TB of cloud storage.

Expanded Detail

The student offer requires verification through SheerID, a third-party service that confirms enrollment at accredited institutions. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and maintain a personal Google account with a linked payment method, even though the subscription itself costs nothing for the year.

Hardware promotions vary by device tier, with the Chromebook Plus providing the longest free period at 12 months. The Acer 515, priced around $420, represents the entry point for that offer. Family sharing allows up to five additional members to receive select benefits, though premium extras like YouTube Premium Lite are excluded from shared access.

Context

This promotion could reshape how students and budget-conscious consumers engage with premium AI tools, potentially accelerating adoption of AI-assisted workflows in academic and professional settings. By lowering the financial barrier, Google may expand its user base and lock in long-term subscribers once free periods expire. However, the requirement for payment details and the eventual return to full pricing could create

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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