Is it possible to use Gemini API in regions where it's not available yet, by selecting another region than the one I am in currently?

VPN
1

As I understand it, Gemini API is not available in the EU and UK yet. But is it still possible to select another region than the one which I reside in currently, when using the API both via code and the Vertex AI platform? My main goal is to use it via code for my own purposes for now. So, can I use the API via another region than the one I am in currently, without risking account ban or other restrictions?

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PS. I don’t have a cloud/vertex account yet and don’t want to create one now and waste the 300 usd free credits without confirmation that I can use the API within my region. I know Gemini is free for now anyway, but still…

2

Is is available through Vertex AI

3

This still seems blocked to UK users?

Has anyone actually got the Gemini API (the one with 60 request per minute free) working in the UK yet?

Seems you can login and mess with the sandbox but no way to get an API key. I don’t want to play with VPNs to get this, as want a sustainable solution.

4

It’s available on Vertex AI no matter where you from, the restriction only applies to Bard.

5

I would not worry too much I find I have to fallback to ChatGPT and Claude as many of the workloads I ask it for it simply refuses to do… even the stuff it suggests doesn’t work.

6

It is possible with a workaround, you can create a edge function or your own server hosted in some allowed country. Then just make a request to your server from Europa or whatever place you wish.

7

Same problem. i can hook up a vpn and access the gemini chatbot on the browser, but no through python. I heard of ways that you could add proxy to the python script so it runs through the vpn, but i currently have no idea how to do that. anyone got a clue?

8

Just Completed my app 60% and realize my app is not supported in europe while my target audience is them only

9

Gemini 1.5 Pro is currently available in more than 35 languages and over 150 countries and territories. It’ll be available in more languages in the future.
The availability of Gemini Advanced in any specific Gemini app is also limited to the supported languages and countries of that app.
Gemini Advanced isn’t available to users under 18 and for work or school accounts.
To access Gemini Advanced features with a work or school account, your administrator must enable access to the Gemini for Google Workspace add-on.

Just released on May 14th 2024

10

Please help,

Where to specific the region in python client?

model = genai.GenerativeModel('gemini-1.5-flash')
response = model.generate_content("some prompt")
11

You could try using a VPN or setting environment variables like `http_proxy` and `https_proxy` to trick the API into thinking you’re accessing it from a different region.

12

Do we have any update?

13

I have a possible workaround for this, this worked for me, so here you go:

  1. Use a VPN and connect to USA
  2. Make a new google account
  3. Go to https://ai.google.dev and click “get API key”
  4. Once you’re in the studio, get your key (you can watch this video for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6ZmtKvPni4)
  5. Then use your Gemini API key directly, you don’t need to use Vertex for this. I believe Vertex costs money and if you’re using the Gemini API directly it’s free of charge for up to 60 queries/min so yeah.
14

The only way to do it for now is to create a proxy cloud function and deploy it in one of the supported regions. You can then call that function from anywhere…

15

I am able to use it via the model garden and I am trying this sample code generated from the garden and works perfectly:

import vertexai
from vertexai.preview.generative_models import GenerativeModel, Part

def multiturn_generate_content():
    config = {
        "max_output_tokens": 2048,
        "temperature": 0.9,
        "top_p": 1
    }
    model = GenerativeModel("gemini-pro")
    chat = model.start_chat()
    print(chat.send_message("""Hello world!""", generation_config=config))


multiturn_generate_content()

However, I am not able to do it wigh LangChain, any idea?

16

OK - thats it, I give up! I’ve tried everything to get it working via an API key so I can integrate with a PHPStorm AI assistant plugin.

Have tried all methods detailed here - vertex AI, US-based compute engines, everything and while I can get it to answer requests through the model garden thats not what i need it for and when i do try to plug the API key into my PHPStorm plugin (AI Coding) I get -

{
"error": { 
    "code": 400, 
    "message": "User location is not supported for the API use.",
    "status": "FAILED_PRECONDITION" } 
}

Google - I hate you so much right now!

17

No, it’s not available in regions where Google doesn’t allow it. Not with AI Studio. Not with Vertex Not with any workarounds. Googlr just doesn’t allow their AI to be used in Europe, nor in the UK.

18

Yes, exactly. But from what I’ve read it’s not yet available for the europe and uk regions, so I’ll have to choose a region which I am not residing in. There in my question and worry about a possible ban.

19

Just ensure your requests are sent under a VPN from an accepted country

20

The question was is the Gemini Pro and Gemini API blocked in the UK and in Europe.

The answer is yes it is. No change in that. Neither has Google even announced any plans to fix it, so Europe and the UK are completely out of their AI services.