Google expands Gemini with cheaper models and a bug-hunter it keeps on a leash
Google LLC today launched three new Gemini Flash models and moved its CodeMender code-security agent into preview, part of a push to run artificial intelligence agents more cheaply and to automate the finding and fixing of software vulnerabilities.
The new models are Gemini 3.6 Flash, an updated version of the workhorse model Google positions for coding and knowledge work; Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, built for high-throughput tasks; and Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber, a security-tuned model the company is restricting to governments and trusted partners.
Gemini 3.6 Flash is the centerpiece. Google said it uses up to 17% fewer output tokens than the previous 3.5 Flash on the Artificial Analysis Index and takes fewer reasoning steps and tool calls to complete multistep jobs. It’s priced at $1.50 per million input tokens and $7.50 per million output tokens, below the cost of 3.5 Flash.
The company reported gains across coding and knowledge benchmarks. It put the model at 49% on DeepSWE against 37% for 3.5 Flash, at 63.9% on the MLE Bench measure of machine-learning research against 49.7%, and at 83% on the OSWorld-Verified test of computer use against 78.4%. Computer use is now a built-in tool in the Gemini API and Gemini Enterprise. On GDPval-AA v2, a benchmark for knowledge work, Google scored the model at 1421 against 1349.
