Google almost ready to launch new Gemini AI model, may beat Anthropic and OpenAI in coding this time

Google has fallen behind OpenAI and Anthropic in the AI race in recent months. But now, the company is planning to make a comeback, particularly when it comes to coding with a new Gemini model. This new Gemini model may bring the company back on track in the AI race, as per a new report. As per a report from Wall Street Journal, Google is preparing to launch a new AI model, internally known as "Skimaki," with stronger coding performance. Coding is one of the most important business uses of AI, and is largely dominated by Anthropic and OpenAI. This model, the report adds, will be called Gemini 3.8 Flash, and could be released as early as Wednesday - September 2, 2026. Previous reports indicated that Google employees had begun testing Gemini 3.8 Flash internally last month. This release could be crucial for Google. The company has faced delays with its next flagship AI model Gemini 3.5 Pro as it reportedly failed to meet internal coding benchmarks. At the same time, the company has seen changes among its top leadership, with Demis Hassabis stepping aside as Google DeepMind CEO. What is Gemini 3.8 Flash? According to the report, in internal head-to-head tests inside Jetski, Google's coding platform, some engineers preferred 3.8 Flash to Anthropic's Opus model. Keep in mind that Gemini 3.8 Flash will likely not be a new frontier model. Gemini's Flash models are smaller models designed for quicker responses at a cheaper cost. Flash models are usually trained on a couple hundred billion parameters, compared to trillions of parameters when it comes to the most advanced models from OpenAI or Anthropic. Though the smaller size makes them easier to modify, allowing several Google teams to test different approaches at the same time. The report adds that this is an advantage over the Pro models, where updates need far more of Google's computing resources. Google has been moving quickly when it comes to new Flash models. Gemini 3.6 Flash rolled out in July, followed by 3.7…