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Gemini 3.5 Flash: 76% on Terminal-Bench, 4x Faster Output

Google released Gemini 3.5 Flash on May 19, 2026. The fast, lower-cost tier scored 76.2% on Terminal-Bench 2.1 and, by Google’s own measure, generates output about 4 times faster than other frontier models. Flash is available today across the Gemini app, Search, and the API. Gemini 3.5 Pro is confirmed for next month.

Key Takeaways

  • Gemini 3.5 Flash launched on May 19, 2026 and is free to use in the Gemini app and Google Search.
  • It scored 76.2% on Terminal-Bench 2.1, a test of finishing real terminal tasks end to end.
  • Google says Flash produces output about 4 times faster than rival frontier models.
  • The model is built for agents that run long, multi-step jobs and call tools.
  • Gemini 3.5 Pro, the larger sibling, is confirmed for next month.

What is Gemini 3.5 Flash?

Gemini 3.5 Flash is Google’s new fast, lower-cost tier of the Gemini 3.5 family. It was announced and made generally available on May 19, 2026, according to the Google announcement post . The “Flash” name has always meant a model tuned for speed and price.

Gemini CLI: Google's Free AI Coding Agent with 1,000 Requests Per Day

Gemini CLI: Google's Free AI Coding Agent with 1,000 Requests Per Day

Gemini CLI is Google’s open-source terminal AI agent. It offers a free tier with 1,000 requests per day and a 1M token context window. While its code quality trails Claude Code, it provides zero-cost access for developers. It’s now the most-starred AI coding CLI on GitHub.

Key Takeaways

  • Get 1,000 free AI requests every day using just a personal Google account.
  • Ingest entire codebases at once with the massive 1M token context window.
  • Use the fast Gemini 3 Flash model for routine coding tasks and refactoring.
  • Extend the agent with custom skills for your specific project needs.
  • Connect to Google Cloud services using official MCP server integrations.

The Free Tier That Drove 97K GitHub Stars

Gemini CLI has about 97K GitHub stars. This exceeds Codex CLI ’s 73K and beats Claude Code . The reason’s simple: Gemini CLI is the only major terminal agent with a real free tier.