# Google Gen AI JS SDK 3.0.0: Gemini API defaults to v1, Node.js 22 required

Canonical: https://theagenticweekly.com/news/google-genai-js-sdk-3-0-0 · Evidence: Reported · First seen: 2026-11-06 04:59 UTC · Source published: 2026-11-06 04:00 UTC · Brief published: 2026-11-06 06:17 UTC · Updated: 2026-11-06 06:17 UTC · Author: Agentic Weekly

> 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.

## What changed

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

## In the source's words

> "Default Gemini Developer API version is now v1 (was v1beta)"
> (googleapis/js-genai release notes for v3.0.0, https://github.com/googleapis/js-genai/releases/tag/v3.0.0)

> "Minimum supported Node.js version is now 22 (was 20)"
> (googleapis/js-genai release notes for v3.0.0, https://github.com/googleapis/js-genai/releases/tag/v3.0.0)

> "Users who must remain on Node.js 20 should pin to @google/genai@^2"
> (googleapis/js-genai release notes for v3.0.0, https://github.com/googleapis/js-genai/releases/tag/v3.0.0)

## 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.

## Timeline

- Source published: 2026-11-06 04:00 UTC
- First seen by our watcher: 2026-11-06 04:59 UTC (via GitHub releases: googleapis/js-genai)
- Brief published: 2026-11-06 06:17 UTC

## Sources

- [googleapis/js-genai v3.0.0 release notes](https://github.com/googleapis/js-genai/releases/tag/v3.0.0) (primary source) (fetched 2026-11-06)
- [@google/genai 3.0.0 on npm registry](https://registry.npmjs.org/@google/genai/3.0.0) (fetched 2026-11-06)

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## How to cite

Agentic Weekly, "Google Gen AI JS SDK 3.0.0: Gemini API defaults to v1, Node.js 22 required", published 2026-11-06 06:17 UTC, https://theagenticweekly.com/news/google-genai-js-sdk-3-0-0