Google Releases Three New Gemini Models, Omitting 3.5 Pro

Google DeepMind released three new AI models on Tuesday: Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber. Gemini 3.6 Flash is positioned as Google's "workhorse model," offering enhanced capabilities in coding, knowledge work, and multimodal performance while reducing token usage by up to 17%. This efficiency makes it more cost-effective than its predecessor, 3.5 Flash.

The Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite model is highlighted as the most cost-effective in its class. Additionally, 3.5 Flash Cyber is a specialized model fine-tuned for identifying and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities at a reasonable price point. Google stated this model will be available exclusively to governments and trusted partners through a limited access pilot program.

Google emphasized that the focus of these releases is to deliver efficiency, low latency, and reliability for customers building AI agents at scale. The new Flash models are designed to meet the demands of production applications.

The launch is significant not only for the models introduced—which are cheaper, faster, and optimized for coding, efficiency, and cybersecurity—but also for what was omitted. The update does not include the long-awaited upgrade to Google's flagship model, Gemini Pro, last updated in February. The delayed release of Gemini Pro, following recent significant updates from competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic, raises questions about Google's AI development strategy.