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Google launches Gemini 4 Hydrogen model, rolling out to Search and developer platforms

Google has launched Gemini 4 Hydrogen, an AI model built for fast coding and agentic workflows that replaces Gemini 3.8 Flash and powers a major upgrade to Google Search.

A comparison table of AI model benchmark scores evaluating Google's Gemini 4 Hydrogen against Claude Sonnet 5.5 and GPT-6.1 Terra across various coding and reasoning tasks.
Image: @MTSlive

Google has released its new Gemini 4 Hydrogen artificial intelligence model, dropping its prior Flash branding and replacing Gemini 3.8 Flash. The company has begun rolling out the model globally across Google Search and its AI Mode, an update Google executive Robby Stein described as the biggest model upgrade to Search yet.[2][4][6][7][8][9][10]

In Search, the update enhances AI Mode by improving its comprehension of complex, multi-part queries, multiple instructions, and spelling mistakes while generating richer visual responses, relevant links, and comparison tables. While Google's Gemini 4 Carbon and Argon models focus on deeper reasoning, Hydrogen is tailored for rapid execution across agentic automation and everyday coding tasks.[4][5][6][7][13]

Google reports that Hydrogen finishes tasks 2.5 times faster than Gemini 3.8 Flash, with its Terminal-Bench 4.1 score jumping from 18.2% to 57%. Hydrogen also comes with a 1-million-token context window and is available in the Gemini app, Gemini API, AI Studio, and paid AI Pro and Ultra tiers in Antigravity. Chief AI Architect Koray Kavukcuoglu announced API pricing of $1.50 per 1 million input tokens and $7.50 per 1 million output tokens, undercutting Google's Carbon and Argon tiers.[1][3][5][7][9][10][11][12]

Key facts

  • Google launched Gemini 4 Hydrogen to replace Gemini 3.8 Flash, dropping the 'Flash' branding.
  • Google executive Robby Stein called Gemini 4 Hydrogen 'the biggest model upgrade to Search yet.'
  • The rollout brings comparison tables, richer visual responses, and improved handling of multi-step queries and spelling errors to Google Search's AI Mode.
  • Gemini 4 Hydrogen is priced at $1.50 per 1 million input tokens and $7.50 per 1 million output tokens, undercutting the pricing of Gemini 4 Carbon and Argon.
  • The model includes a 1-million-token context window and is accessible via Google Search, the Gemini app, AI Studio, the Gemini API, and Antigravity.
  • Google says Hydrogen completes tasks 2.5 times faster than Gemini 3.8 Flash, with a Terminal-Bench 4.1 score of 57% compared to 18.2%.

Sources · 11 sources

  1. SI

    SiliconANGLE@SiliconANGLEPost on X ·

    Google releases Gemini 4 Hydrogen, a lower-cost model said to outscore Argon https://t.co/1YfIzyYnef

    Open source
  2. AT

    Ars Technica@arstechnicaPost on X ·

    Google rolls out Gemini 4 Hydrogen, finally replacing 3.8 Flash https://t.co/vqew47QJqs

    Open source
  3. 9T

    9to5Mac@9to5macPost on X ·

    Google announces Gemini 4 Hydrogen, rolling out to Gemini app https://t.co/WZnPFvDILr by @technacity

    Open source
  4. MI

    Mint@livemintPost on X ·

    Google has started rolling out its Gemini 4 Hydrogen AI model globally to Search, improving its ability to understand complex queries, multiple instructions and spelling mistakes. The upgrade also brings more relevant website links, visual responses and comparison tables to AI Mode. https://t.co/tMuMwPhoML

    Open source
  5. TE

    Techmeme@TechmemePost on X ·

    Google launches Gemini 4 Hydrogen, built for rapid execution across diverse agentic workflows, priced at $1.50/1M input tokens and $7.50/1M output tokens (@koraykv / Google) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)

    Open source
  6. TE

    TechCrunch@TechCrunchPost on X ·

    Powered by Gemini 4 Hydrogen, Google's AI Mode is getting better at understanding complex queries, surfacing relevant links, and delivering richer visual responses. https://t.co/ZgB3qLU1RI

    Open source
  7. WS

    Wall St Engine@wallstenginePost on X ·

    $GOOGL JUST LAUNCHED GEMINI 4 HYDROGEN. Google is rolling it out globally to all Search users, calling it the biggest model upgrade to Search yet. Hydrogen brings better understanding of complex, multi-part questions, discovers a wider range of relevant links and delivers richer visual responses, including comparison tables and custom tools. While Gemini 4 Carbon and Argon focus on deeper reasoning, Hydrogen is designed for faster, more efficient everyday coding and agentic workflows. Google says Hydrogen completes tasks 2.5x faster than Gemini 3.8 Flash, while its Terminal-Bench 4.1 score jumps from 18.2% to 57%. The model is also available in the Gemini app, Gemini API and AI Studio, with a 1M-token context window.

    Open source
  8. TV

    The Verge@vergePost on X ·

    Google’s Robby Stein says Gemini 4 Hydrogen is ‘the biggest model upgrade to Search yet.’ https://t.co/10ShPYd0EM

    Open source
  9. TE

    TechmemeArticle ·

    Google says Gemini 4 Hydrogen is available across AI Studio, the Gemini API, Search, paid AI Pro and Ultra tiers in Antigravity, and more (Abner Li/9to5Google) Abner Li / 9to5Google : Google says Gemini 4 Hydrogen is available across AI Studio, the Gemini API, Search, paid AI Pro and Ultra tiers in Antigravity, and more — After this week's Carbon availability, Google today unveiled Gemini 4 Hydrogen instead of keeping the “Flash” branding.

    Open source
  10. TE

    TechmemeArticle ·

    Google launches Gemini 4 Hydrogen, calling it a major upgrade over Gemini 3.8 Flash, at $1.50/1M input and $7.50/1M output tokens across its 1M context window (Koray Kavukcuoglu/Google) Koray Kavukcuoglu / Google : Google launches Gemini 4 Hydrogen, calling it a major upgrade over Gemini 3.8 Flash, at $1.50/1M input and $7.50/1M output tokens across its 1M context window — Hydrogen brings cutting-edge intelligence to everyone. — SVP, Google DeepMind and Chief AI Architect, Google

    Open source
  11. TE

    Techmeme@TechmemePost on X ·

    Google says Gemini 4 Hydrogen is available across AI Studio, the Gemini API, Search, paid AI Pro and Ultra tiers in Antigravity, and more (@technacity / 9to5Google) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)

    Open source
  12. NE

    NeowinFeed@NeowinFeedPost on X ·

    Gemini 4 Hydrogen undercuts the pricing of Google's flagship Carbon and Argon releases while surprisingly surpassing Argon on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index. #Google #Gemini4 #Hydrogen https://t.co/yyOw4MFERF

    Open source
  13. DI

    Digit@digitindiaPost on X ·

    Google has introduced Gemini 4 Hydrogen, a faster and more efficient AI model focused on coding and agentic automation! 🤖 Here are its features, pricing and availability details:👇 - https://t.co/PanFbH9a7R #Gemini4Hydrogen #Gemini #GoogleAI #GoogleGemini #GeminiAI #TechNews

    Open source