At Google’s packed I/O developer conference, CEO Sundar Pichai told the crowd to wait until next month for Gemini 3.5 Pro—after many expected it to appear on Tuesday. The delay disappointed attendees, even as Google used the same stage to unveil other AI produ
For many in the crowd at Google’s flagship developer conference I/O on Tuesday, the moment they wanted had a simple shape: a new, top-tier model landing on stage.
Instead, Gemini 3.5 Pro didn’t come out.
CEO Sundar Pichai walked through the anticipation directly, telling the audience, “I know you can’t wait to get your hands on it,” before asking for patience: “Give us until next month to get it to you.”
The delay landed with a thud because Tuesday was exactly where a release would have made sense. Many had expected Gemini 3.5 Pro to be available at I/O, described in the build-up as the most powerful model in the works from Google.
Pichai didn’t spell out why the chatbot would launch later than expected. He did, however, try to soften the gap with a specific promise of progress, saying it’s already “showing great improvements” compared to previous versions.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The question now for the industry is simple: when a company is pushing AI into everything from search to enterprise software. what happens when a flagship model slips—especially after prior expectations were exceeded?. The attention is heightened by the performance of Google’s last major AI model, Gemini 3, which outperformed expectations.
Google’s stock has also been rising, buoyed by strong results tied to its AI models and chips. That matters because Gemini 3.5 Pro is being watched not just as a product, but as a signal of how quickly Google can keep its momentum.
The company still used I/O to move the storyline forward. Google launched Spark, an AI agent that can run without keeping a laptop open. It also released Gemini 3.5 Flash, an AI model optimized for AI agents.
So while Gemini 3.5 Pro was held back until next month, the show went on—with tools positioned for real-world use now, and a bigger model promised soon after.
Google I/O Gemini 3.5 Pro Sundar Pichai Spark Gemini 3.5 Flash AI agents AI models chips stock tech conference