source: techcrunch ai: google releases three new gemini models — but no 3.5 pro
level: business
google deepmind launched three new gemini models on tuesday: 3.6 flash, 3.5 flash-lite, and 3.5 flash cyber. gemini 3.6 flash is described as a workhorse model with better coding, knowledge work, and multimodal skills. it cuts token usage by up to 17% compared to the previous 3.5 flash, lowering costs. gemini 3.5 flash-lite is the most cost-effective option in its class. gemini 3.5 flash cyber is fine-tuned for finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities and will be available only to governments and trusted partners through a limited access pilot.
the releases target customers building ai agents at scale, emphasizing efficiency, latency, and reliability. the update is notable for what it omitted: the long-awaited gemini 3.5 pro. google last updated its pro line in february. since then, openai shipped gpt-5.5 and began rolling out gpt-5.6, while anthropic launched claude opus 4.8, claude sonnet 5, and expanded access to fable 5. google had teased the pro release in may, but bloomberg reported internal delays due to performance goals. product lead logan kilpatrick said testing with partners is underway and the team hopes to "land soon."
gemini pro models are google's highest-capability offerings for complex reasoning and coding, while flash models prioritize lower cost and faster responses for production use. the company also revealed it has started its most ambitious pre-training run yet for gemini 4. the flash updates show google's push to serve enterprise and developer needs with cheaper, specialized tools, even as its top-tier model lags behind competitors.
why it matters: the new flash models offer cheaper, faster options for ai agents and cybersecurity, but the missing pro update signals google is struggling to keep pace with rivals in high-end reasoning models.
source: techcrunch ai: google releases three new gemini models — but no 3.5 pro