Googling just released a new AI model this month. The employees are already testing the next one.
Some employees have started using a preview version of Twin 3.8 Flash, which highlights the breakneck pace of the AI race as Google releases new models just weeks apart to keep up with OpenAI and Anthropic.
The new model – called “Gemini 3.8 Flash Preview” – was made available to staff at Google’s internal encryption platform, Jetski, according to images obtained by Business Insider.
One employee who tested the new model said it already felt noticeably better than 3.7 Flash, but stressed it was too early for a full assessment.
Google declined to comment.
With 3.5 Pro still missing and Anthropic and OpenAI sprinting ahead in the AI race, Google no longer has a frontier model. Instead, the company has doubled down on its ‘Flash’ models, which offer greater speed and lower costs for users, at a time when customers keep a closer eye on their AI account.
Google calls these models its “workhorse models” for coding and running agents, which often consume tokens faster than chatbots. Agent assistants designed to help with everyday tasks appear to be the next big thing among AI companies. Google launched its Gemini Spark agent earlier this year, and so is Meta testing its “Hatch” agent internally.
Google has been improving its Flash models at a rapid pace. Gemini 3.6 Flash was rolled out in July and 3.7 Flash followed just three weeks later. During the company’s Q2 earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai said the company would aim for a near monthly release frequency.
The employee preview suggests that a public rollout of Gemini 3.8 Flash may not be far off, but it’s not a guarantee.
A pair of sharp-eyed AI sleuths are convinced they spotted Gemini 3.8 Flash on Arena AI, a model benchmarking website that Google has previously used to test upcoming releases.
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