Reported News
Google Gen AI JS SDK 3.0.0: Gemini API defaults to v1, Node.js 22 required
Google shipped @google/genai 3.0.0 on November 6, 2026. The release notes say the Gemini Developer API default is now v1 (was v1beta), Node.js engines require >=22.0.0 (was 20), and CodeExecutionResultStep.result is typed as Array | string.
- Changes reported
- 5
- listed below, each from a source we read
- We tested
- Not tested yet
- reported from sources; we did not run it ourselves
- Gaps we flag
- 3
- things we could not verify
- Sources
- 2
- 1 primary, linked below
What changed
| # | What the source says | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Breaking: clients targeting the Gemini Developer API now default to API version v1 instead of v1beta. Vertex AI clients with vertexai: true stay on v1beta1. | Reported |
| 02 | Breaking: package.json engines.node now requires >=22.0.0 after Node.js 20 end-of-life on 2026-04-30. Users who must stay on Node 20 should pin @google/genai@^2. | Reported |
| 03 | Breaking for TypeScript: interactions CodeExecutionResultStep.result is typed as Array | string instead of string; text-only JSON is still a plain string but callers may need to narrow the union. | Reported |
| 04 | GOOGLE_GENAI_API_VERSION env var (for example beta or v1beta) restores or sets the API version when none is set in code; apiVersion on GoogleGenAI still wins. | Reported |
| 05 | Features in the same release include source_text on AudioTranscriptionConfig, MALFORMED_RESPONSE on FinishReason, Office/OpenDocument MIME types for interactions, and disabling GenerateVideos for the Gemini API. | Reported |
reported by the sourcemeasured or run by usnot verified
Primary source: googleapis/js-genai v3.0.0 release notes. We are the fast, independent index; the vendor’s own page is the source of record for this release.
In the source’s words
“Default Gemini Developer API version is now v1 (was v1beta)”
“Minimum supported Node.js version is now 22 (was 20)”
“Users who must remain on Node.js 20 should pin to @google/genai@^2”
Early verdict
A forced upgrade for Gemini Developer API JS users still on Node 20 or depending on v1beta defaults; Vertex AI-only apps are less affected by the version default but still need Node 22.
Basis: Based on the published breaking-changes section of the v3.0.0 release notes; we have not run the upgrade.
What we have not verified
- We did not install or run @google/genai 3.0.0; upgrade impact is taken from the release notes.
- We did not check whether GenerateVideos was previously used in production Gemini Developer API traffic.
- npm twin @google/genai 3.0.0 was paired from the watcher; we did not re-diff the npm tarball against the GitHub tag.
This brief is Reported: written from the sources below, not from running the release ourselves.
Sources
- googleapis/js-genai v3.0.0 release notesprimary source · fetched 2026-11-06
- @google/genai 3.0.0 on npm registrysource · fetched 2026-11-06
Related
Spotted an error? See our corrections policy or email the address on the contact page. Markdown version for agents: /news/google-genai-js-sdk-3-0-0.md
Want these briefs in your Google Top Stories? Add Agentic Weekly as a preferred source on Google.
Newsletter
The Weekly Verdict. Free, every Monday.
A free email every Monday: the week's few big AI releases, then 5 short use cases for the new models, each with a prompt you can paste.
Free. Double opt-in. One click to unsubscribe.