Google is nearing the release of its next-generation Gemini 4 artificial intelligence model, according to the head of its DeepMind division.

Koray Kavukcuoglu said Google has moved Gemini 4 into a refinement stage and wants to release an early version “much earlier” than the end of the year.

Kavukcuoglu made the comments in his first media interview since taking over leadership of DeepMind.

“Our intention is to, like, as soon as possible, to release an early post-training output because we see the results and we are excited,” he told The Information.

He said Google would continue with “fast-paced iterations” as development progresses.

Google Targets Faster Gemini Releases

The comments indicate that Google wants to establish a faster release cycle for its flagship AI models.

DeepMind has undergone a leadership transition in recent months.

Demis Hassabis stepped down from his role leading the division in August after previously saying that Google was making strong progress on Gemini 4.

Kavukcuoglu now leads the division as Google prepares its next major AI release.

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Google has not introduced another flagship model since the Gemini 3 series launched in November 2025.

Gemini Faces Competition From AI Rivals

Google has faced increasing competition from companies developing advanced generative AI systems.

OpenAI and Anthropic have continued releasing new models while Google worked on its next flagship Gemini version.

The competitive pressure has increased attention on Gemini 4 and its performance against rival AI systems.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai had previously indicated that the company planned a major Gemini 3.5 Pro update in June.

The company did not release that model as initially expected.

Kavukcuoglu said Google instead decided to step back and focus on its faster Flash models.

DeepMind Focuses on AI Frontier

Google’s decision to prioritise faster Flash models reflects a broader effort to improve the pace of AI development.

The company has been balancing model capability with the speed of development and deployment.

Kavukcuoglu said Google remains confident about its ability to compete at the leading edge of artificial intelligence.

Asked whether he was concerned about Google trailing competitors, he said he viewed staying at the frontier as a certainty.

The planned Gemini 4 launch will provide a major test of that confidence as Google seeks to strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving AI market.