Illustration: AI
Google has started rolling out paid access to Gemini 4 Carbon, a new AI model, with prices starting at $2 per million input tokens (theverge.com). Developers in Kazakhstan considering the model need to keep two things in mind: introductory prices will double at the end of November, and usage varies by task.
What happened
Google calls Carbon its most capable model. It is offering it for complex, multistep programming and open-ended scientific research. The company says its previous model, Argon, is suitable for most development and information tasks.
Google also introduced a preview of its swarm feature on the Antigravity platform. It is designed to turn a single prompt into coordinated work by a team of AI agents, programs that carry out assigned tasks.
What this means for developers in Kazakhstan
For a team in Kazakhstan considering Carbon for its product, text processing rates are the starting point. Introductory pricing is $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. Tokens are chunks of text that the model receives and generates.
Here’s an important detail: a low rate alone does not guarantee a small bill. Different models can use different numbers of tokens for the same task. So it makes sense to compare Carbon’s costs with those of other models using the same real-world tasks.
Access also depends on how you connect. Google announced the launch through the Gemini API, an interface for connecting the model to applications, in Google AI Studio and through Gemini for business. This rollout is aimed at paying developers and companies.
Google AI Ultra subscribers are set to get access in the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search and Antigravity. The switch to the new model also affects Google’s AI search. How the mode itself works is covered separately in our article on links in AI Mode.
Details still to be confirmed
There is no word yet on when Carbon will reach cheaper subscriptions or the free version. Google has not promised users that access yet.
If you plan to connect, compare token usage on your own tasks and budget for rates to double after the introductory period. The next announced price change is expected at the end of November.
