diff --git a/generic_rag/backend/models.py b/generic_rag/backend/models.py
index a5a261f..2065bd5 100644
--- a/generic_rag/backend/models.py
+++ b/generic_rag/backend/models.py
@@ -56,15 +56,17 @@ def get_chat_model(settings: AppSettings) -> BaseChatModel:
         return ChatOpenAI(model=settings.openai.chat_model, openai_api_key=settings.openai.api_key.get_secret_value())
 
     if settings.chat_backend == ChatBackend.google_vertex:
-        if not settings.google:
-            raise ValueError("Google Vertex chat backend selected, but 'google' configuration section is missing.")
-        if settings.google.chat_model:
+        if not settings.google_vertex:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Google Vertex chat backend selected, but 'google_vertex' configuration section is missing."
+            )
+        if settings.google_vertex.chat_model:
             model_name = settings.google.chat_model
         logger.info(f"Using Google Vertex model: {model_name}")
         return ChatVertexAI(
-            model_name=settings.google.chat_model,
-            project=settings.google.project_id,
-            location=settings.google.location,
+            model_name=settings.google_vertex.chat_model,
+            project=settings.google_vertex.project_id,
+            location=settings.google_vertex.location,
         )
 
     if settings.chat_backend == ChatBackend.aws:
@@ -135,14 +137,22 @@ def get_embedding_model(settings: AppSettings) -> Embeddings:
         return OpenAIEmbeddings(model=model_name, openai_api_key=settings.openai.api_key.get_secret_value())
 
     if settings.emb_backend == EmbeddingBackend.google_vertex:
-        if not settings.google:
-            raise ValueError("Google Vertex embedding backend selected, but 'google' configuration section is missing.")
+        if not settings.google_vertex:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Google Vertex embedding backend selected, but 'google_vertex' configuration section is missing."
+            )
         model_name = "textembedding-gecko@001"  # Example default
-        if settings.google.emb_model:
-            model_name = settings.google.emb_model
+        if (
+            not settings.google_vertex.emb_model
+            or not settings.google_vertex.project_id
+            or not settings.google_vertex.location
+        ):
+            raise ValueError("Google Vertex configuration requires 'emb_model', 'project_id', and 'location'.")
         logger.info(f"Using Google Vertex embedding model: {model_name}")
         return VertexAIEmbeddings(
-            model_name=model_name, project=settings.google.project_id, location=settings.google.location
+            model_name=settings.google_vertex.emb_model,
+            project=settings.google_vertex.project_id,
+            location=settings.google_vertex.location,
         )
 
     if settings.emb_backend == EmbeddingBackend.aws:
diff --git a/generic_rag/parsers/config.py b/generic_rag/parsers/config.py
index af5c9b0..1815937 100644
--- a/generic_rag/parsers/config.py
+++ b/generic_rag/parsers/config.py
@@ -52,10 +52,9 @@ class OpenAISettings(BaseModel):
     api_key: Optional[SecretStr] = None
 
 
-class GoogleSettings(BaseModel):
-    """Google specific settings (Vertex AI or GenAI)."""
+class GoogleVertexSettings(BaseModel):
+    """Google Vertex specific settings."""
 
-    api_key: Optional[SecretStr] = None
     project_id: Optional[str] = None
     location: Optional[str] = None
     chat_model: Optional[str] = None
@@ -124,7 +123,7 @@ class AppSettings(BaseModel):
     # --- Provider-specific settings ---
     azure: Optional[AzureSettings] = None
     openai: Optional[OpenAISettings] = None
-    google: Optional[GoogleSettings] = None
+    google_vertex: Optional[GoogleVertexSettings] = None
     aws: Optional[AwsSettings] = None
     local: Optional[LocalSettings] = None
     huggingface: Optional[HuggingFaceSettings] = None  # Separate HF config if needed