Google launches Gemini 4 Hydrogen to replace 3.8 Flash

Google is continuing its elemental AI naming scheme by introducing Gemini 4 Hydrogen, which immediately takes the place of the previous 3.8 Flash model. Unlike other recent releases that saw staggered rollouts or expensive subscription restrictions, Hydrogen is available immediately with much more relaxed limits. The company states that Hydrogen offers significant performance improvements, running up to 2.5 times faster than 3.8 Flash while greatly reducing fabricated claims. The new model is integrated into Google Search and is available to developers via API, with pricing remaining unchanged from the previous generation.