According to PYMNTS.com, Google has launched Gemini 3 with expanded reasoning, longer context handling, and improved multimodal performance across text, image, audio and video. The company immediately deployed it into Search’s AI Mode for premium subscribers and added it to the Gemini app. Developers can now access it through AI Studio and Vertex AI platforms. While independent evaluations remain limited, Google reports strong internal results on comprehension and problem-solving tests. The release follows OpenAI’s GPT 5.1 launch with faster reasoning and personalization features, plus Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5 update focused on complex enterprise work.
The Real Search AI Battle
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just another model release. Google is making a massive strategic bet by pushing Gemini 3 directly into Search. For nearly two years, everyone’s been wondering whether AI would actually kill Google’s golden goose. You know, that whole “will chatbots replace search engines” debate. Well, Google’s answer is basically “we’ll put the AI inside search instead.”
And that’s smart. Really smart. They’re not letting some external chatbot become the default interface for information. They’re making sure Search remains where you go for everything – queries, summaries, planning, shopping. It’s a defensive move, sure, but it’s the right one for their business model.
The Enterprise AI Arms Race
Look at what’s happening across the board. OpenAI’s pushing GPT 5.1 with enterprise workflow customization. Anthropic’s doubling down on Claude for complex coding and long-running tasks with expanded safety controls. And Google? They’re countering with Antigravity for building agents and enhanced governance on Vertex AI.
But here’s the interesting part – each company is playing to their strengths. OpenAI owns the developer ecosystem. Anthropic has the trust of governance-focused enterprises. And Google? They have Search. Massive distribution that nobody else can match. The question is whether that distribution advantage can overcome what might be technical disadvantages in some areas.
What Comes Next
So where does this leave us? We’re seeing the AI market segment into clear lanes. Consumer-facing AI through search and apps. Developer tools through platforms like AI Studio. And enterprise solutions with all the governance bells and whistles.
The real test will be how these models perform in the wild. Google’s internal results sound great, but we need to see real-world performance. Can Gemini 3 actually handle complex reasoning tasks better than GPT 5.1 or Claude? Does its multimodality give it an edge? We’ll find out soon enough as developers and enterprises start putting these models through their paces. One thing’s for sure – the AI competition just got a lot more interesting.
