AI / Google Antigravity Gemini Fundamentals Interview Questions
What are the current Gemini model families and which should you use for different tasks?
As of mid-2026, the Gemini model ecosystem spans multiple generations. The Gemini 3.x series is the primary production line, with Gemini 3.5 Flash being the newest generally-available flagship.
| Model | API ID | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | gemini-3.5-flash | Frontier agentic and coding tasks | GA; Pro-level intelligence at Flash price |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview | gemini-3.1-pro-preview | Complex reasoning, highest quality | Preview only; no free tier via API |
| Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | gemini-3.1-flash-lite | High-volume cost-sensitive tasks | Most cost-efficient in Gemini 3 series |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | gemini-2.5-flash-001 | Stable production workloads | Stable; 10 RPM / 250 RPD free tier |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | gemini-2.5-pro | Strong reasoning on stable model | Stable; very restricted free tier |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite | gemini-2.5-flash-lite | Cheapest option | $0.10/1M input; 15 RPM free tier |
Decision guide:
- Prototyping/testing: Gemini 2.5 Flash (free tier, stable)
- Production with cost sensitivity: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or 2.5 Flash-Lite
- Production needing reasoning: Gemini 2.5 Pro (stable) or 3.1 Pro Preview (higher capability but preview)
- Agentic and coding tasks: Gemini 3.5 Flash (flagship as of June 2026)
Important: Gemini 2.0 Flash and 2.0 Flash-Lite were shut down on June 1, 2026. All Gemini 1.0 and 1.5 models already return 404 errors.
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