What did Koray Kavukcuoglu say about Google's current AI models?

He said they are "a little bit below the frontier" but expressed 100% certainty that Google will be at the frontier, citing the team, resources, and full stack.

What update did he give on Gemini 4 and Gemini 3.5 Pro?

For Gemini 4, he repeated it's "the most ambitious run" so far and going well. He gave no update on Gemini 3.5 Pro, which is still in the works but months late.

What did he say about the Flash series?

He described the jump from Flash 3.5 through 3.6 to 3.7 as a shift from a language model to a coding agent, emphasizing software engineering as the most critical domain.

Large Language ModelsAI Business & IndustryTHE DECODERSep 1, 2026Sep 2, 2026, 04:01 JST

DeepMind chief: frontier AI leadership is all that matters

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3 Key Points

What happened
Google DeepMind chief Koray Kavukcuoglu said being at the frontier of AI is the only thing that matters to the company. He admitted Google's current models are "a little bit below the frontier" but expressed confidence they will close the gap.
Why it matters
This pushes back against speculation that Google prioritizes price-to-performance over leading the AI model race. Kavukcuoglu highlighted the Flash series' rapid progress from a language model to a coding agent, calling software engineering the most critical domain.
What to watch
He gave no new details on Gemini 4, calling it "the most ambitious run" so far, or on the delayed Gemini 3.5 Pro. Instead, he pointed to the Flash series' evolution as a sign of progress.

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Context & Analysis

Kavukcuoglu's comments directly counter the notion that Google might be content with second place in AI because reach depends on cost-performance. By insisting that frontier leadership is the sole priority, he signals that Google will invest heavily to close the gap, even if current models lag slightly. His admission that Google is "a little bit below the frontier" is notable for its candor, and his confidence in the team, resources, and full stack suggests a strategic bet on long-term capability rather than short-term efficiency.

The lack of concrete news on Gemini 4 or Gemini 3.5 Pro may frustrate those expecting updates, but his emphasis on the Flash series' evolution points to a different narrative: Google is focusing on turning models into agents, particularly for software engineering. This shift from language model to coding agent could be a key differentiator, as he called software engineering "the most critical domain." If the Flash series continues to improve rapidly, it may help Google regain frontier status, though the timeline remains unclear.

FAQ

What did Koray Kavukcuoglu say about Google's current AI models?: He said they are "a little bit below the frontier" but expressed 100% certainty that Google will be at the frontier, citing the team, resources, and full stack.
What update did he give on Gemini 4 and Gemini 3.5 Pro?: For Gemini 4, he repeated it's "the most ambitious run" so far and going well. He gave no update on Gemini 3.5 Pro, which is still in the works but months late.
What did he say about the Flash series?: He described the jump from Flash 3.5 through 3.6 to 3.7 as a shift from a language model to a coding agent, emphasizing software engineering as the most critical domain.

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