Google's AI lead shaky as Gemini 3.5 Pro faces delays

Google's lead in the AI race is under pressure. After a strong position with Gemini 3 in late 2025, the company's advantage is fading. Google released three faster, cheaper models, but the next big one, Gemini 3.5 Pro, is delayed, raising doubts about keeping users and investors happy.

Rivals are mocking Google. Meta's AI chief downplayed Google's model ranking online, and an OpenAI staffer joined in. Google announced pre-training for Gemini 4, but got a sarcastic reply: 'Hope it finishes training one day!' Analysts say the delay turns Google from a leader to a follower.

Still, Google's business is solid. AI boosts search, YouTube, and cloud. Google bets on faster, cheaper models as a winning move, and some users praise their efficiency. Experts say it's too early to count Google out, as the fast-paced AI race may not bring real progress.