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Google has blown past its self-imposed June launch date for Gemini 3.5 Pro, its highly anticipated flagship artificial intelligence model, leaving developers and investors waiting.
According to a report from Bloomberg, the delay stems from a frantic internal push to fix the model's underperforming software coding capabilities.
The model was expected to launch in June after being introduced alongside Gemini 3.5 Flash during Google I/O in May. As of mid-July, Google has not announced a new release date.
The delay comes as competition in AI coding tools intensifies, with rivals including OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and China's Z.ai introducing newer models aimed at software development.
Google says testing continues
Google confirmed that Gemini 3.5 Pro remains in testing but did not provide a timeline for public availability.
"We’re shipping quickly across a wide range of models while keeping them highly cost-effective for customers," a Google spokesperson said in a statement according to Bloomberg.
The spokesperson added, "We’re currently testing 3.5 Pro, an upgraded Flash model, and other models with partners, and we’re productively engaged with the U.S. government on model testing and broader frameworks."
At a media briefing before Google I/O, CEO Sundar Pichai said, "We are also excited for 3.5 Pro. We are using it internally. It's showing great improvements. We are still testing and refining it, and it will roll out to everyone next month."
That launch window has passed.
Coding performance is holding up the launch
Bloomberg reported that Google spent additional time strengthening Gemini 3.5 Pro's coding capabilities, an increasingly important benchmark in the AI industry. One source told the publication that Google refreshed the model's training data in late June, but the results did not meet expectations.
The report also described growing frustration among some Google engineers and researchers, who worry that the company could lose ground as competitors continue to ship stronger coding models.
Google's size may also be slowing development. According to Bloomberg, multiple teams across Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Android, and consumer products contribute to AI development, creating additional coordination challenges compared with smaller AI companies.
AI race keeps accelerating
The delay comes as major AI developers continue to release new coding-focused models.
Meta recently unveiled Muse Spark 1.1, while OpenAI launched GPT-5.6 Sol, emphasizing more efficient agentic coding. Anthropic has also expanded its lineup after introducing Claude Mythos Preview and later releasing Fable 5.
Google says AI already plays a major role inside the company. According to the company, 75% of the code at Google is now generated by AI and approved by engineers before reaching production.
What it means
Missing a launch target is not unusual in software development, but the AI market is moving much faster than traditional product cycles.
Every month, Gemini 3.5 Pro remains unavailable, giving competitors more time to improve their own models and raise customer expectations. Developers evaluating AI platforms may increasingly compare Google’s upcoming release with newer rival models rather than the models it originally targeted.
For Google, delaying the launch could ultimately prove worthwhile if the final product delivers stronger coding performance. However, waiting longer also increases the pressure to release a model that clearly justifies the extra development time rather than merely matching what competitors already offer.
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