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Google DeepMind launches Gemini 3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking models

Google DeepMind unveiled two new Gemini models—3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking—designed to bring near‑real‑time reasoning to voice agents. The standard Live model emphasizes scale, cost efficiency, fluid dialogue and visual grounding, while the Extended Thinking variant targets high‑complexity tasks with multi‑step reasoning and simultaneous speech.

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Key points

  • Gemini 3.8 Live and Extended Thinking launched for real‑time voice agents with visual grounding and multi‑step reasoning
  • Extended Thinking scores 97.7% on Big Bench Audio, 68.6% on τ‑Voice, and tops Speech‑to‑Speech Quality Index at 82.6
  • Available via Gemini API, Google AI Studio, and in private preview for enterprises; partners include Salesforce, Agora, Vercel and LiveKit

Both models are already showing strong benchmark results: Extended Thinking topped Artificial Analysis’s Speech‑to‑Speech Quality Index at 82.6, achieved 68.6 % on the τ‑Voice task and 35.1 % on Sierra’s τ‑Voice‑banking benchmark, and scored 97.7 % on Big Bench Audio. Google is rolling them out through the Gemini API, Google AI Studio, private enterprise previews, and consumer‑facing services like Search, Workspace and Gmail, with partners such as Salesforce, Agora, Vercel and LiveKit helping developers build high‑performance voice interfaces. All generated audio includes an imperceptible SynthID watermark for provenance.

The launch positions Gemini as a direct competitor to other frontier multimodal models, offering developers a cost‑effective, production‑ready foundation for sophisticated, voice‑first AI experiences across a range of enterprise and consumer applications.

Full story from Google DeepMind · by Tom Ouyang primary source Open source ↗

Introducing Gemini 3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking

Google DeepMind · 15 September 2026

Introducing Gemini 3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking

Today, we’re introducing two new models that bring advancements in near real-time reasoning to more effectively enable voice agents and make conversing with AI feel more intuitive and intelligent.

  • Gemini 3.8 Live : Built for scale and cost efficiency, combining conversational intelligence with fluid dialogue and visual grounding.
  • Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking : Built for high-complexity tasks, with increased intelligence and multi-step reasoning.

For developers and enterprises, these models deliver the building blocks for reliable, production-ready voice agents. They also make speaking with Gemini across the Gemini app, Google Workspace, and Search more fluid and collaborative — helping you tackle complex tasks using just your voice.

Experience more fluid, intelligent conversations

Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking provides enterprise-grade task completion and intelligence, capturing the #1 overall spot on Artificial Analysis' Speech to Speech Quality Index (82.6), and leads in agentic task completion with 68.6% on τ-Voice and 35.1% on Sierra’s τ-Voice-banking benchmark. It also provides strong reasoning capabilities, scoring 97.7% on Big Bench Audio, while maintaining a highly competitive price point compared to other frontier models.

Gemini 3.8 Live has shown a high preference among users, securing a second place in the Speech Agent Arena. In addition to this performance, it remains highly cost-effective — providing developers and enterprises with a capable and efficient model built for scale.

Note: This was run on the Live API on Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Gemini 3.8 Live processes visual inputs in near real-time, enriching conversations with context for more helpful responses. It automatically detects and transitions between 97 supported languages mid-conversation. It executes tools and API calls in the background while continuing the conversation, so the model can acknowledge requests and keep chatting while tasks finish in the background.

For tasks that require deeper reasoning, 3.8 Live Extended Thinking reasons and speaks simultaneously. It delivers increased intelligence for complex workflows while maintaining an uninterrupted conversational flow — using early verbal cues like “Let me check that…” to acknowledge prompts naturally, and live progress narration to walk users through multi-step background tasks as they progress.

Across Google Workspace and Search, our Live models deliver more intuitive, collaborative experiences — especially when tackling your most complex tasks.

Empowering the developer and enterprise voice ecosystem

By using the Gemini Live API, developer platforms such as Agora, Fishjam, LiveKit, Pipecat, Vercel, and Vision Agents enable developers to build and deploy high-performance voice-driven interfaces with ease. These platforms manage complex real-time media streaming infrastructure behind the scenes, allowing developers to focus entirely on crafting the user experience.

We’re also partnering with companies like Salesforce, Genspark, and Lumeris who are excited about 3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking, highlighting its impressive latency, fluidity, and tool-calling capabilities.

Ensure transparency with SynthID watermarking

All audio generated by our AI products is watermarked with SynthID. This imperceptible watermark is woven directly into the audio output, ensuring AI-generated content remains detectable to help prevent misinformation. For details on our approach to safety and responsibility, review the model card.

Start using our latest Gemini Audio models:

3.8 Live is rolling out starting today:

  • For developers : In the Gemini API and Google AI Studio
  • For enterprises : In private preview in Gemini Enterprise and coming soon to Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience
  • For everyone : In Search Live

3.8 Live Extended Thinking is rolling out starting today:

  • For developers : In the Gemini API and Google AI Studio
  • For enterprises : In private preview in Gemini Enterprise and coming soon to Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience and Google Workspace business customers
  • For everyone : In Gemini Live and for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in Workspace in Docs, and all Google AI subscribers in Gmail and Keep

This text was published by Google DeepMind and written by Tom Ouyang. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗

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