Google releases three new Gemini models - but no 3.5 Pro
Google released Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, and Flash Cyber, but the continued absence of Gemini 3.5 Pro raises fresh questions about its AI strategy. On Tuesday, Google DeepMind released Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber. Gemini 3.6 Flash is Google's "workhorse model" that promises improved capabilities in coding, knowledge work, and multimodal performance while reducing token usage by up to 17%, making it cheaper than its predecessor 3.5 Flash.
Key Takeaways
- Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite is the most cost-effective model in the class, and 3.5 Flash Cyber is a specialized model that was fine-tuned for finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities at a decent price point.
This model will be exclusively available to governments and trusted partners as part of a limited access pilot program, according to Google.
- The launch is notable not just for what Google shipped - cheaper, faster models optimized for coding, efficiency, and cybersecurity - but also for what it didn't.
The update doesn't include the long-anticipated update to Google's flagship model, Gemini Pro, which was last updated in February.
- Last week, Bloomberg reported that Google was facing internal delays in launching the 3.5 Pro as it struggled to meet internal performance goals.
Gemini Pro models are generally Google's highest-capability offerings for complex reasoning and coding tasks, while Flash models prioritize lower cost and faster response times for production applications.
- He also noted that the team has started its most ambitious pre-training run yet for Gemini 4.
Rebecca Bellan Senior Reporter Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch where she covers the business, policy, and emerging trends shaping artificial intelligence.
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Stats & Key Facts
- #Gemini 3.6 Flash is Google's "workhorse model" that promises improved capabilities in coding, knowledge work, and multimodal performance while reducing token usage by up to 17%, making it cheaper than its predecessor 3.5 Flash.
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite is the most cost-effective model in the class, and 3.5 Flash Cyber is a specialized model that was fine-tuned for finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities at a decent price point. This model will be exclusively available to governments and trusted partners as part of a limited access pilot program, according to Google. Google says the focus on these releases is to deliver efficiency, latency, and reliability to customers that are building AI agents at scale.
The launch is notable not just for what Google shipped - cheaper, faster models optimized for coding, efficiency, and cybersecurity - but also for what it didn't. The update doesn't include the long-anticipated update to Google's flagship model, Gemini Pro, which was last updated in February. In the time since that launch, OpenAI has released GPT-5.5 and begun rolling out GPT-5.6 , while Anthropic has launched Claude Opus 4.8 and Claude Sonnet 5 and has expanded access to its frontier Fable 5 model , highlighting the intense release pace of the rival labs.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Google was facing internal delays in launching the 3.5 Pro as it struggled to meet internal performance goals. Gemini Pro models are generally Google's highest-capability offerings for complex reasoning and coding tasks, while Flash models prioritize lower cost and faster response times for production applications.
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