Google Speeds Up AI Race with Gemini 3.8 Flash in Testing

Google is speeding up its AI model updates to keep up with OpenAI and Anthropic. Some Google employees are now testing Gemini 3.8 Flash preview on the internal platform Jetski, as reported by Business Insider. One tester said it feels better than 3.7 Flash, but it's too early for a full review.

Google is focusing on the Flash series, calling it the "workhorse" for coding and running agents, with faster speed and lower costs. Gemini 3.6 Flash came out in July, and 3.7 Flash just three weeks later. CEO Sundar Pichai wants to release new models almost every month.

Since Gemini 3.5 Pro hasn't launched yet, Google is using the Flash series to attract business customers. Employees testing the preview usually means a public release isn't far off, but no exact date is set.