Google is pushing hard to deliver Gemini 4 and plans to release the model significantly earlier than the end of 2026. That's according to Koray Kavukcuoglu, the newly appointed head of Google's DeepMind division, who spoke with The Information. The announcement signals that Google wants to overcome recent delays and narrow the gap with its competitors in the AI arms race.
The essentials
- Gemini 4 is currently in refinement and will be released "as soon as possible"
- Google hasn't launched a new flagship model since November 2025; OpenAI (GPT-6) and Anthropic (Mythos series) have since moved ahead
- Kavukcuoglu committed to continuing "fast-paced iterations" going forward
- A planned Gemini 3.5 Pro update scheduled for June 2025 never shipped
How Google fell behind
The Gemini 4 delays didn't happen in a vacuum. Google CEO Sundar Pichai promised a major Gemini 3.5 Pro update in June at the May I/O event to close the gap with rivals. It never arrived. Instead, the company "took a step back," as Kavukcuoglu admitted, to focus on faster, less resource-intensive Flash models.
It was a strategic misstep. While Google worked on Flash variants, OpenAI and Anthropic shipped their next-generation models – both outperforming Google's Gemini 3, last released in November 2025. Google lost ground in the AI race.
New leadership, new pace
Kavukcuoglu took over DeepMind after Demis Hassabis stepped down in August. Hassabis had mentioned "great progress" on Gemini 4 without committing to timelines. Kavukcuoglu is signaling a different approach.
"Our intention is to, like – as soon as possible – to release an early post-training output because we see the results and we are excited," Kavukcuoglu told The Information.
That sounds like urgency – and reflects the pressure Google feels. When asked if he's concerned about Google falling behind, Kavukcuoglu replied: "In my mind, it's a certainty that we are always gonna be at the frontier." A bold claim given the current market position.
What it means for you
For enterprises relying on or considering Google's AI models, a fast Gemini 4 launch could matter. Many organizations have switched to OpenAI or Anthropic to access the latest frontier models. A competitive Gemini 4 would level the playing field again – and potentially pressure prices, benefiting users. More broadly, this underscores a key pattern: the AI market is dominated by a handful of players, and those who can't innovate fast enough lose share. That has regulatory implications too – the more concentrated the market, the more scrutiny from authorities.
Sources
Editorially owned by Ideal Syka. Sources and method: Newsroom & method. Tips and corrections: ai@i6eal.de.
