The artificial intelligence community is buzzing with excitement after Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis dropped a mysterious hint about an imminent major AI release. Early Tuesday, Hassabis took to X (formerly Twitter) with a cryptic message that sent traders and developers into speculation overdrive.
The Cryptic Hint That Started It All
Demis Hassabis posted: "It's nearly 3 here, my favourite part of the night shift… locked in," suggesting that Google's most significant AI announcement of the year might be just around the corner. The timing of this post, combined with its suggestive nature, immediately caught the attention of AI enthusiasts worldwide.
Adding fuel to the speculation fire, Google CEO Sundar Pichai responded to the growing rumors with nothing but thinking face emojis. This subtle acknowledgment from the top executive further strengthened beliefs that something substantial was brewing within Google's AI labs.
Quiet Rollout Already Underway
While Google has maintained official silence about Gemini 3, evidence suggests the AI model has already begun a soft launch through Canvas on mobile devices. Users across Reddit and various developer communities are reporting significant improvements compared to the previous Gemini 2.5 Pro version.
Early testers are particularly impressed with the model's ability to handle complex single-shot prompts on first attempts, a substantial leap from earlier iterations that required multiple refinements. The AI is now generating SVG animations, web designs, and 3D physics simulations that work cleanly and function properly without the iterative tweaking typically needed.
Strategic Shift in Google's AI Approach
This understated launch strategy represents a fundamental change in Google's approach to AI releases. The company's previous AI announcements faced numerous challenges, including privacy lawsuits, image generation failures, and API breaking changes that frustrated the developer community.
Instead of rushing to beat competitors like OpenAI to headlines, Google appears to be testing Gemini 3 with real users first, gathering valuable feedback, and refining the model based on actual performance metrics. This measured approach seems designed to let enterprise adoption numbers speak for themselves rather than relying on marketing hype.
With Google controlling 44% of the productivity software market through its Gmail, Drive, and Workspace ecosystem, seamless integration matters more than benchmark scores. When Gemini 3 works effectively within tools that companies already depend on, the competitive advantage shifts from having the flashiest model to providing the most useful AI where people actually work.
The betting markets reflect this anticipation, with Polymarket traders placing 69% odds on a November 22 launch date for Gemini 3. This cautious yet confident rollout strategy might finally give Google the AI success story it has been chasing, focusing on practical utility over spectacular announcements.
