refactor: decouple auto model description and configuration from releaseChannel

docs/reference/configuration.md

@@ -1037,12 +1037,6 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
       "auto": {
         "default": "gemini-3-pro-preview",
         "contexts": [
-          {
-            "condition": {
-              "releaseChannel": "stable"
-            },
-            "target": "gemini-2.5-pro"
-          },
           {
             "condition": {
               "hasAccessToPreview": false
@@ -1186,13 +1180,6 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
             },
             "target": "gemini-2.5-pro"
           },
-          {
-            "condition": {
-              "releaseChannel": "stable",
-              "requestedModels": ["auto"]
-            },
-            "target": "gemini-2.5-pro"
-          },
           {
             "condition": {
               "requestedModels": ["gemini-2.5-pro", "auto-gemini-2.5"]

packages/cli/src/acp/acpUtils.ts

@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import {
   getDisplayString,
   AuthType,
   ToolConfirmationOutcome,
-  getChannelFromVersion,
   getAutoModelDescription,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type * as acp from '@agentclientprotocol/sdk';
@@ -272,8 +271,6 @@ export function buildAvailableModels(
   const useCustomToolModel =
     useGemini31 && selectedAuthType === AuthType.USE_GEMINI;
 
-  const releaseChannel = getChannelFromVersion(config.clientVersion);
-
   // --- DYNAMIC PATH ---
   if (
     config.getExperimentalDynamicModelConfiguration?.() === true &&
@@ -284,7 +281,6 @@ export function buildAvailableModels(
       useGemini3_1FlashLite: useGemini31FlashLite,
       useCustomTools: useCustomToolModel,
       hasAccessToPreview: shouldShowPreviewModels,
-      releaseChannel,
     });
 
     return {
@@ -298,7 +294,10 @@ export function buildAvailableModels(
     {
       value: GEMINI_MODEL_ALIAS_AUTO,
       title: getDisplayString(GEMINI_MODEL_ALIAS_AUTO),
-      description: getAutoModelDescription(releaseChannel, useGemini31),
+      description: getAutoModelDescription(
+        shouldShowPreviewModels,
+        useGemini31,
+      ),
     },
   ];
 

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ModelDialog.test.tsx

@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ vi.mock('@google/gemini-cli-core', async (importOriginal) => {
     await importOriginal<typeof import('@google/gemini-cli-core')>();
   return {
     ...actual,
+    getAutoModelDescription: (
+      hasAccessToPreview: boolean,
+      useGemini3_1?: boolean,
+    ) =>
+      `Auto Model Description (preview: ${hasAccessToPreview}, 3.1: ${useGemini3_1})`,
     getDisplayString: (val: string) => mockGetDisplayString(val),
     logModelSlashCommand: (config: Config, event: ModelSlashCommandEvent) =>
       mockLogModelSlashCommand(config, event),

packages/cli/src/ui/components/ModelDialog.tsx

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import {
   AuthType,
   PREVIEW_GEMINI_3_1_CUSTOM_TOOLS_MODEL,
   isProModel,
-  getChannelFromVersion,
   getAutoModelDescription,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { useKeypress } from '../hooks/useKeypress.js';
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ export function ModelDialog({ onClose }: ModelDialogProps): React.JSX.Element {
   // Determine the Preferred Model (read once when the dialog opens).
   const preferredModel = config?.getModel() || GEMINI_MODEL_ALIAS_AUTO;
 
-  const shouldShowPreviewModels = config?.getHasAccessToPreviewModel();
+  const shouldShowPreviewModels = config?.getHasAccessToPreviewModel() ?? false;
   const useGemini31 = config?.getGemini31LaunchedSync?.() ?? false;
   const useGemini31FlashLite =
     config?.getGemini31FlashLiteLaunchedSync?.() ?? false;
@@ -122,12 +121,6 @@ export function ModelDialog({ onClose }: ModelDialogProps): React.JSX.Element {
     },
     { isActive: true },
   );
-
-  const releaseChannel = useMemo(
-    () => getChannelFromVersion(config?.clientVersion ?? ''),
-    [config?.clientVersion],
-  );
-
   const mainOptions = useMemo(() => {
     // --- DYNAMIC PATH ---
     if (
@@ -142,7 +135,6 @@ export function ModelDialog({ onClose }: ModelDialogProps): React.JSX.Element {
           useCustomTools: useCustomToolModel,
           hasAccessToPreview: shouldShowPreviewModels,
           hasAccessToProModel,
-          releaseChannel,
         });
 
       const list = allOptions
@@ -170,7 +162,10 @@ export function ModelDialog({ onClose }: ModelDialogProps): React.JSX.Element {
       {
         value: GEMINI_MODEL_ALIAS_AUTO,
         title: getDisplayString(GEMINI_MODEL_ALIAS_AUTO),
-        description: getAutoModelDescription(releaseChannel, useGemini31),
+        description: getAutoModelDescription(
+          shouldShowPreviewModels,
+          useGemini31,
+        ),
         key: GEMINI_MODEL_ALIAS_AUTO,
       },
       {
@@ -192,7 +187,6 @@ export function ModelDialog({ onClose }: ModelDialogProps): React.JSX.Element {
     useGemini31FlashLite,
     useCustomToolModel,
     hasAccessToProModel,
-    releaseChannel,
   ]);
 
   const manualOptions = useMemo(() => {
@@ -209,7 +203,6 @@ export function ModelDialog({ onClose }: ModelDialogProps): React.JSX.Element {
           useCustomTools: useCustomToolModel,
           hasAccessToPreview: shouldShowPreviewModels,
           hasAccessToProModel,
-          releaseChannel,
         });
 
       return allOptions
@@ -302,7 +295,6 @@ export function ModelDialog({ onClose }: ModelDialogProps): React.JSX.Element {
     useGemini31FlashLite,
     useCustomToolModel,
     hasAccessToProModel,
-    releaseChannel,
     config,
   ]);
 

packages/core/src/availability/policyHelpers.test.ts

@@ -220,18 +220,7 @@ describe('policyHelpers', () => {
     ];
 
     testCases.forEach(
-      ({
-        name,
-        model,
-        useGemini31,
-        hasAccess,
-        authType,
-        wrapsAround,
-        ...rest
-      }) => {
-        const releaseChannel = (rest as Record<string, unknown>)[
-          'releaseChannel'
-        ] as string | undefined;
+      ({ name, model, useGemini31, hasAccess, authType, wrapsAround }) => {
         it(`achieves parity for: ${name}`, () => {
           const createBaseConfig = (dynamic: boolean) =>
             createMockConfig({
@@ -241,7 +230,7 @@ describe('policyHelpers', () => {
               getGemini31FlashLiteLaunchedSync: () => false,
               getHasAccessToPreviewModel: () => hasAccess ?? true,
               getContentGeneratorConfig: () => ({ authType }),
-              getReleaseChannel: () => releaseChannel ?? 'preview',
+              getReleaseChannel: () => 'preview',
               modelConfigService: new ModelConfigService(DEFAULT_MODEL_CONFIGS),
             });
 

packages/core/src/availability/policyHelpers.ts

@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ export function resolvePolicyChain(
       useGemini3_1: useGemini31,
       useGemini3_1FlashLite: useGemini31FlashLite,
       useCustomTools: useCustomToolModel,
-      releaseChannel: config.getReleaseChannel?.(),
     };
 
     if (resolvedModel === DEFAULT_GEMINI_FLASH_LITE_MODEL) {

packages/core/src/config/defaultModelConfigs.ts

@@ -467,7 +467,6 @@ export const DEFAULT_MODEL_CONFIGS: ModelConfigServiceConfig = {
     auto: {
       default: 'gemini-3-pro-preview',
       contexts: [
-        { condition: { releaseChannel: 'stable' }, target: 'gemini-2.5-pro' },
         { condition: { hasAccessToPreview: false }, target: 'gemini-2.5-pro' },
         {
           condition: { useGemini3_1: true, useCustomTools: true },
@@ -559,10 +558,6 @@ export const DEFAULT_MODEL_CONFIGS: ModelConfigServiceConfig = {
           condition: { hasAccessToPreview: false },
           target: 'gemini-2.5-pro',
         },
-        {
-          condition: { releaseChannel: 'stable', requestedModels: ['auto'] },
-          target: 'gemini-2.5-pro',
-        },
         {
           condition: { requestedModels: ['gemini-2.5-pro', 'auto-gemini-2.5'] },
           target: 'gemini-2.5-pro',

packages/core/src/config/models.test.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
   isProModel,
   GEMMA_4_31B_IT_MODEL,
   GEMMA_4_26B_A4B_IT_MODEL,
+  getAutoModelDescription,
 } from './models.js';
 import type { Config } from './config.js';
 import { ModelConfigService } from '../services/modelConfigService.js';
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@
     expect(supportsMultimodalFunctionResponse('gemini-3-pro')).toBe(true);
   });
 
   it('should return false for gemini-2 models', () => {
     expect(supportsMultimodalFunctionResponse('gemini-2.5-pro')).toBe(false);
     expect(supportsMultimodalFunctionResponse('gemini-2.5-flash')).toBe(false);
   });
@@ -704,3 +705,23 @@
     ).toBeDefined();
   });
 });
+
+describe('getAutoModelDescription', () => {
+  it('should return Gemini 2.5 description when hasAccessToPreview is false', () => {
+    const desc = getAutoModelDescription(false, false);
+    expect(desc).toContain('gemini-2.5-pro');
+    expect(desc).toContain('gemini-2.5-flash');
+  });
+
+  it('should return Gemini 3.0 description when hasAccessToPreview is true', () => {
+    const desc = getAutoModelDescription(true, false);
+    expect(desc).toContain('gemini-3-pro');
+    expect(desc).toContain('gemini-3-flash');
+  });
+
+  it('should return Gemini 3.1 description when hasAccessToPreview and useGemini3_1 are true', () => {
+    const desc = getAutoModelDescription(true, true);
+    expect(desc).toContain('gemini-3.1-pro');
+    expect(desc).toContain('gemini-3-flash');
+  });
+});

packages/core/src/config/models.ts

@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@
 export interface ModelCapabilityContext {
   readonly modelConfigService: IModelConfigService;
   getExperimentalDynamicModelConfiguration(): boolean;
-  getReleaseChannel?(): string;
 }
 
 export const PREVIEW_GEMINI_MODEL = 'gemini-3-pro-preview';
@@ -97,16 +96,15 @@
 export const DEFAULT_THINKING_MODE = 8192;
 
 export function getAutoModelDescription(
-  releaseChannel: string = 'stable',
+  hasAccessToPreview: boolean,
   useGemini3_1: boolean = false,
 ) {
-  const isPreview = releaseChannel === 'preview';
-  const proModel = isPreview
+  const proModel = hasAccessToPreview
     ? useGemini3_1
       ? 'gemini-3.1-pro'
       : 'gemini-3-pro'
     : 'gemini-2.5-pro';
-  const flashModel = isPreview ? 'gemini-3-flash' : 'gemini-2.5-flash';
+  const flashModel = hasAccessToPreview ? 'gemini-3-flash' : 'gemini-2.5-flash';
   return `Let Gemini CLI decide the best model for the task: ${proModel}, ${flashModel}`;
 }
 
@@ -126,7 +124,6 @@
   useCustomToolModel: boolean = false,
   hasAccessToPreview: boolean = true,
   config?: ModelCapabilityContext,
-  releaseChannel?: string,
 ): string {
   // Defensive check against non-string inputs at runtime
   const normalizedModel = Array.isArray(requestedModel)
@@ -135,15 +132,12 @@
       ? String(requestedModel ?? '').trim() || ''
       : requestedModel.trim() || '';
 
-  const currentReleaseChannel = releaseChannel ?? config?.getReleaseChannel?.();
-
   if (config?.getExperimentalDynamicModelConfiguration?.() === true) {
     const resolved = config.modelConfigService.resolveModelId(normalizedModel, {
       useGemini3_1,
       useGemini3_1FlashLite,
       useCustomTools: useCustomToolModel,
       hasAccessToPreview,
-      releaseChannel: currentReleaseChannel,
     });
 
     if (!hasAccessToPreview && isPreviewModel(resolved, config)) {
@@ -405,7 +399,7 @@
 export function isGemini2Model(model: string): boolean {
   // This is legacy behavior, will remove this when gemini 2 models are no
   // longer needed.
   return /^gemini-2(\.|$)/.test(model);
 }
 
 /**

packages/core/src/services/modelConfigService.ts

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 export interface ModelDefinition {
   displayName?: string;
   tier?: string; // 'pro' | 'flash' | 'flash-lite' | 'custom' | 'auto'
   family?: string; // The gemini family, e.g. 'gemini-3' | 'gemini-2'
   isPreview?: boolean;
   // Specifies whether the model should be visible in the dialog.
   isVisible?: boolean;
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@
   hasAccessToPreview?: boolean;
   hasAccessToProModel?: boolean;
   requestedModel?: string;
-  releaseChannel?: string;
 }
 
 /** The requirements defined in the registry. */
@@ -113,7 +112,6 @@
   hasAccessToPreview?: boolean;
   /** Matches if the current model is in this list. */
   requestedModels?: string[];
-  releaseChannel?: string;
 }
 
 export interface ModelConfigServiceConfig {
@@ -159,7 +157,6 @@
     const shouldShowPreviewModels = context.hasAccessToPreview ?? false;
     const useGemini31 = context.useGemini3_1 ?? false;
     const useGemini31FlashLite = context.useGemini3_1FlashLite ?? false;
-    const releaseChannel = context.releaseChannel ?? 'stable';
 
     const mainOptions = Object.entries(definitions)
       .filter(([_, m]) => {
@@ -171,7 +168,10 @@
       .map(([id, m]) => {
         let description = m.dialogDescription ?? '';
         if (id === 'auto') {
-          description = getAutoModelDescription(releaseChannel, useGemini31);
+          description = getAutoModelDescription(
+            shouldShowPreviewModels,
+            useGemini31,
+          );
         } else if (id === 'auto-gemini-3' && useGemini31) {
           description = description.replace('gemini-3-pro', 'gemini-3.1-pro');
         }
@@ -265,8 +265,6 @@
             !!context.requestedModel &&
             value.includes(context.requestedModel)
           );
-        case 'releaseChannel':
-          return value === context.releaseChannel;
         default:
           return false;
       }