Google delays Gemini 3.5 Pro as coding goals fall short
Google has delayed Gemini 3.5 Pro by months after the model fell short of internal targets, especially coding, according to Bloomberg. The setback is major technology news because rivals OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta are shipping stronger coding models, and Alphabet shares dropped about 4.4% on the report.
Key Takeaways
- Gemini 3.5 Pro is months behind schedule as Google works to improve performance, especially coding skills.
- Google expected a broader rollout after announcing the model at its May I/O conference.
- A late-June training-data update aimed at coding produced disappointing results, Bloomberg reported.
- Alphabet shares closed about 4.4% lower after the delay news reached investors.
- Google says it is testing 3.5 Pro and an upgraded Flash model with partners and the U.S. government.
The delay, first detailed by Bloomberg, lands in a crowded AI race where coding strength is a key battleground. For more coverage of emerging models and launches, see BlasterPost’s Future Tech & AI Wonders section.
Why did Google delay Gemini 3.5 Pro?
People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Alphabet’s Google is months behind on delivering Gemini 3.5 Pro, its most powerful flagship model. The company has spent extra time trying to lift capabilities, particularly in coding, after results fell short of internal goals.
At Google I/O in May, the company said 3.5 Pro was already in internal use and pointed to a broader rollout the following month. That public timeline has slipped, and Google has not announced a firm new consumer release date.
Late last month, Google updated training data in an effort to improve coding skills. One person briefed on the work said the results were disappointing, according to Bloomberg.
How are rivals and investors reacting?
Current and former employees told Bloomberg they worry Google could lose ground as Anthropic and OpenAI ship models that outperform Gemini. OpenAI and Meta have also recently released models that outpace Google’s current offerings in AI for writing code, the report said.
Yahoo Finance reported that Alphabet (GOOGL) shares fell in the afternoon session and closed at $354.64, down about 4.4% from the prior close. Investors viewed Gemini 3.5 Pro as an important catalyst for Google’s enterprise AI position, so a multi-month delay weighed on sentiment.
CNBC coverage framed the slip as adding to concerns that Google is falling behind in AI, especially as coding-focused rivals keep shipping updates.
What has Google said about the timeline?
A Google spokesperson said the company is “shipping quickly across a wide range of models while keeping them highly cost-effective for customers.” The company also said it is currently testing 3.5 Pro, an upgraded Flash model, and other models with partners, and is productively engaged with the U.S. government on model testing and broader frameworks.
Bloomberg reported that multiple stakeholder layers and the need to weave AI across Search, Maps, and YouTube can slow releases. Google is also trying to reduce internal confusion around coding tools, including work by Chief AI Architect Koray Kavukcuoglu and a DeepMind coding team led by Sebastian Borgeaud.
Until a new launch date is set, the delay remains a live story in technology news: Google is still testing, rivals are shipping, and markets have already priced in near-term caution.