Google's strongest model does not go to you this week. It goes to a subset of cyber defenders.
Fact
The facts: on October 28, 2026 Google introduced Gemini 4 Carbon - in its own words its strongest model, with leading cybersecurity and long-horizon capabilities. Starting this week Google will make it available to a subset of cyber defenders and will gradually phase in access for more trusted partners through its Fairwind Program. For developers, businesses and consumers it promises access through its product surfaces as soon as possible, with no date. Google also writes that it is taking a deliberate approach to rollout and is engaged in the U.S. government's voluntary process for pre-release model testing. Price, according to Google: during the introductory period $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens, then $4 and $20; cached input is 95% off. Google does not say when the introductory period ends. The figures below are Google's, and the cyber tests were run without safeguards: Carbon ranks first on the updated v5.0 of the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index at 59; on SEC-bench Pro, which measures finding vulnerabilities, it scores 88.2%; on ExploitGym, which measures exploitation, 54.8%; on CWE-bench, which measures fixes, 71.0%.
The route is not new. Google writes that Carbon follows Gemini 4 Argon, launched two weeks ago, with the same safety stack and the same introductory price. Argon also went to defenders first. Two models in a row, down the same road: that is a pattern now.
Google's top models go to defenders first. Everyone else waits for a date.
The numbers are strong, but they are Google's. The first place on the Artificial Analysis index is cited by Google, and the cyber results come from its own tests without safeguards: they measure the model itself, not the product you may one day get.
Google does not name the defenders in the subset. The Fairwind Program is for high-priority defenders, like governments, healthcare providers and telecommunications services, and access is requested through a form on its page. Google does not say through which product, or on which plan, Carbon will reach everyone else.
The price is set to the dollar. The day you can pay it is not.
Official primary sources
Google - Introducing Gemini 4 Carbon, 28.10.2026Google DeepMind - Fairwind ProgramThe visual is generated code-art, no third-party images.