Google announced Gemini 4 Carbon on October 28, two weeks after it unveiled Gemini 4 Argon. Like Argon, Carbon goes first to a subset of cyber defenders, not to the Gemini app. As of October 30, Google hasn’t given a date for developers, businesses or consumers.
Access will widen gradually to more trusted partners through Google’s Fairwind Program. Google ties the wider release to more testing:
We’re continuing to gather feedback and iterate on guardrails before making Carbon available to developers, businesses, and consumers via our product surfaces as soon as possible.
Argon took the same route. It reached cyber defenders first and later arrived in the Gemini app for Pro and Ultra subscribers. Google hasn’t said which Gemini app tier will get Carbon first, so Argon’s path isn’t a guarantee.
What Google claims for Gemini 4 Carbon
The numbers below are Google’s own. Androidpure hasn’t tested them.
- Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index v5.0: a score of 59, which Google says puts it in first place
- Security benchmarks: SEC-bench Pro 88.2%, ExploitGym 54.8%, CWE-bench 71.0%
- Accuracy: roughly half as many unsupported claims as Argon, per Google’s internal testing
- Prompt injection: 0.0% attack success on Gray Swan’s Indirect Prompt Injection benchmark, against 0.7% for Argon
- Secure code: more than double Argon’s secure-code success rate
Google also says it is taking part in the US government’s voluntary pre-release model testing process.
API pricing
Introductory API pricing matches Argon at $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. Cached input costs 95% less. According to 9to5Google, prices rise to $4 and $20 after the introductory period.
What it means for Gemini app users
For now, Carbon changes nothing on your phone. It matters once it reaches the Gemini app, and Google hasn’t named a date. If you’re weighing a paid plan to get new models early, note that the free Google AI Pro trial doesn’t include every paid perk.
Sources: Google, 9to5Google
