Google released Gemma 4, a new open-source AI model, licensed under Apache 2.0, allowing developers to run it locally on numerous devices, including billions of Android devices and select laptop GPUs.
This release marks a significant development in the availability of open AI models, offering developers complete control over data, infrastructure, and models. Google’s approach aims to provide enhanced security and privacy compared to proprietary models.
Gemma 4 builds on the technology behind Google’s Gemini 3 model and is touted as the company’s “most capable” open AI model to date. Unlike Gemini, which is a subscription-based product integrated into Google’s applications, Gemma 4 offers users the ability to download and utilize the model for free.
The new model boasts advanced features, including capabilities for complex reasoning, multi-step planning, and improved performance in math and instruction-following tasks. Gemma 4 also supports AI coding assistance and can process both audio and video content for tasks like speech recognition and visual interpretation.
Gemma 4 is available in four different sizes: 2 billion, 4 billion, 26 billion, and 31 billion weights. It has been trained on over 140 languages and supports context windows of up to 256,000 tokens, with smaller variants limited to 128,000 tokens.
Previously, iterations of the Gemma model were open-weight but restricted under Google’s terms. Gemma 4’s open-source designation allows for modifications and use without royalty requirements, aside from mandatory attribution. Google emphasized that this development encourages developer creativity and security.
Gemma 4 is accessible via Google AI studio and can also be downloaded from platforms like Hugging Face, Kaggle, and Ollama, broadening its reach within the developer community.
