Google launches a cheaper alternative to large AI security models like Mythos

Google is launching Gemini 3.6 Flash alongside a new security model dedicated to quickly finding and patching security vulnerabilities. In a blog post, Google describes Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber as a “cost-efficient and highly capable alternative” to larger, more expensive AI systems, such as the one offered by Anthropic’s Mythos.

Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber integrates into CodeMender, Google’s security-focused coding agent, allowing it to identify and patch vulnerabilities. The model will be available first to governments and trusted partners. CodeMender can call upon 3.5 Flash Cyber multiple times at high speed and low cost, allowing AI agents to scan more code paths.

Anthropic’s Mythos 5 is a powerful AI security model released as part of Project Glasswing. However, it is expensive to use. Other companies like Google and China’s Z.ai are racing to offer competitive alternatives.

In benchmark testing on the CyberGym AI cybersecurity framework, 3.5 Flash Cyber achieved competitive performance against significantly larger models. It identified 55 unique confirmed issues in the V8 JavaScript Engine, outperforming Gemini 3.5 Flash and Opus 4.6, including 10 issues no other model discovered.

Additionally, Google introduced Gemini 3.6 Flash with improved coding and multimodal performance, alongside Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite as its most cost-effective option.