Google is reportedly preparing to launch its highly anticipated Gemini 4 AI model, which has faced delays compared to the release schedules of its main competitors. Koray Kavukcuoglu, currently leading Google's DeepMind division, mentioned in an interview with The Information that the model is in the final stages of refinement and that the company is aiming to release it "much earlier" than the end of the year, potentially before the end of 2026. Kavukcuoglu emphasized that the model has shown promising results and that Google plans to release an early version as soon as possible, continuing its fast-paced development cycle. This potential launch comes after a leadership change at DeepMind, where former AI head Demis Hassabis stepped down in August. Hassabis had previously announced significant progress on Gemini 4. Since then, Google has not released a new flagship AI model, with its last major update being the Gemini 3 series in November 2025. In the meantime, competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic have launched more advanced models—GPT-6 and the Mythos series, respectively—both of which have outperformed Gemini 3, giving them a notable advantage in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. In May, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced at the I/O event that a major update to Gemini 3.5 Pro was expected in June to help close the gap. However, this update was never officially released. Kavukcuoglu explained that Google had taken a step back to prioritize the development of faster, less powerful models known as Flash models over the Gemini 3.5 Pro. When asked if he was worried about falling behind in the AI race, Kavukcuoglu confidently stated, "In my mind, it’s a certainty that we are always gonna be at the frontier." Google’s renewed focus on Gemini 4 suggests the company is aiming to regain its position in the competitive AI field. With its previous delays and strategic shifts, the upcoming release of Gemini 4 will be a critical moment for Google as it seeks to reestablish its leadership in artificial intelligence.