Leaks and updates surrounding Google’s Gemini Pro model suggest that its anticipated release on January 28, 2025, has been delayed. Reports indicate that the model was spotted in Google AI Studio under the "Starter apps" section but remains unavailable in the model selector. Additionally, a placeholder changelog for Gemini was updated with the same date, further fueling speculation about its potential launch. However, no official confirmation from Google has clarified the delay or provided a revised timeline.
The delay may be strategic, as OpenAI is preparing to launch its o3-mini reasoning model imminently, with CEO Sam Altman confirming a rollout within a couple of weeks. OpenAI’s o3-mini is positioned as a lightweight yet powerful reasoning model designed for complex tasks like coding, math, and science. It will be available to both free-tier and paid ChatGPT users, marking a significant move in the competitive AI landscape. OpenAI’s timing could influence Google’s decision to postpone Gemini Pro’s release to avoid overlapping announcements.
The Gemini Pro model is part of Google’s broader Gemini AI ecosystem, which includes multimodal capabilities across text, images, and code. Earlier iterations like Gemini 1.5 Pro and Flash have focused on efficiency and long-context processing. The Pro version would likely enhance these features further, targeting developers and enterprises with advanced reasoning and generative capabilities.