Google launches cheaper AI security model to rival Anthropic's Mythos

Google has introduced a new artificial intelligence model designed to identify and fix security vulnerabilities more efficiently and at a lower cost than existing large-scale AI security systems. The company announced the launch of Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber in a blog post on Tuesday, positioning it as a cost-effective and highly capable alternative to larger models like Anthropic's Mythos.

The model is built on Google's Gemini 3.5 Flash and will initially be available to governments and trusted partners through CodeMender, Google's security-focused coding agent. According to Google, CodeMender can invoke Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber multiple times at high speed and low cost, enabling AI agents to scan more code paths and uncover vulnerabilities that might otherwise be missed.

This development matters because it addresses a key challenge in cybersecurity: the high cost and computational demands of using large AI models for vulnerability detection. By offering a cheaper alternative, Google aims to make advanced AI security tools more accessible to organizations that may not have the resources to deploy larger models.

Google did not specify exact pricing or performance benchmarks in the announcement, but the company emphasized that Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber is designed to be both fast and affordable. The model's release follows growing interest in using AI to automate security tasks, as cyber threats become more sophisticated.

The next steps involve rolling out the model to government agencies and trusted partners through CodeMender. Google has not announced a timeline for broader public availability, but the company indicated that the model could eventually be integrated into other security products and services.