Google DeepMind introduces Gemini 3.8 Live and 3.8 Live Extended Thinking

Google DeepMind announced the two conversational AI models on September 15, 2026. It says Extended Thinking narrates progress on difficult tasks to keep the conversation going.

Google said rollout was starting that day, with Gemini 3.8 Live in Search Live and Extended Thinking in Gemini Live, alongside a public preview of both models through the Gemini API in Google AI Studio.

Artificial Analysis reports that Extended Thinking, tested at High reasoning effort, debuted at No. 1 on its Speech to Speech Index with 82.6 points; the standard model ranked No. 5 with 76.0. It also reports that Extended Thinking at High led its Tau Voice benchmark implementation with 68.6%.