Google launches Gemini 3.7 Flash as flagship Pro model remains delayed

Alphabet's ↗ 0.46% Google released Gemini 3.7 Flash on Thursday, a new AI model built for software coding and automated business tasks, just three weeks after launching its predecessor — but still offered no timeline for its delayed flagship Gemini 3.5 Pro model.

A Faster, Cheaper Workhorse

Google is positioning Gemini 3.7 Flash as a lower-cost option for businesses building autonomous AI systems that can plan tasks, use software tools, and complete multi-step workflows with less human intervention. The model is priced at an introductory rate of 75 cents per million input tokens and $3.75 per million output tokens through the end of 2026 — half the original cost of Gemini 3.6 Flash.reuters+1

The company cited benchmark improvements over its predecessor, including a jump in DeepSWE v1.1 from 49% to 65.3% and FrontierCode 1.1 Main rising from 34.4% to 43.6%. On enterprise-oriented tasks, the model scored 30.4% on AutomationBench versus 17% for 3.6 Flash, and 34% on GDP.pdf compared to 22%.arstechnica+1

"It thinks more diligently, putting in more effort into multi-step planning and tool calls," Google said in a blog post.axios

The model is available immediately through Gemini Spark, Google's subscription-based AI agent service for Google AI Pro and Ultra customers in more than 160 countries.reuters

The Missing Flagship

Investors continue to wait for Gemini 3.5 Pro, Google's premium model, which the company promised at I/O in May would launch in June. Google said in July the model was being tested with partners and would arrive "soon," but Thursday's announcement offered no update.arstechnica+1

The release comes amid turbulence at Google DeepMind. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Google co-founder Sergey Brin has urged key AI staff to go all in on Gemini. Last week, DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis stepped aside in favor of deputy Koray Kavukcuoglu, while the two original technical co-leads of Gemini left to co-found a startup.reuters

Competitive Context

Gemini 3.7 Flash enters a crowded field. On the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, it scores 56, ahead of Claude Sonnet 5 at 55 but slightly behind OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Terra and Muse Spark 1.2, both at 57. Its pricing undercuts GPT-5.6 Terra ($2.00 input / $12.00 output) and Claude Sonnet 5 ($2.00 input / $10.00 output) by a wide margin.officechai

As Axios noted, Google has suggested it is training Gemini 4 and is excited by early results, raising the possibility the company may skip the 3.5 Pro release entirely.axios