diff --git a/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud-it.yml b/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud-it.yml
index a011a24ca..cde2287b9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud-it.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud-it.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ name: Integration Tests
 # kick off integration test runs for the time being.
 on: [push]
 jobs:
-  run:
-    name: setup-gcloud
+  versioned:
+    name: setup-gcloud versioned
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.operating-system }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
       
-    - name: setup-gcloud local
+    - name: setup-gcloud
       uses: ./setup-gcloud/
       with:
         version: '278.0.0'
@@ -26,3 +26,25 @@ jobs:
     - name: Integration Tests
       shell: bash
       run: ./setup-gcloud/__tests__/integration-tests.sh
+  latest:
+    name: setup-gcloud latest
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.operating-system }}
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        operating-system: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+            
+      - name: setup-gcloud
+        uses: ./setup-gcloud/
+        with:
+          version: 'latest'
+          service_account_email: ${{ secrets.SETUP_GCLOUD_IT_EMAIL }}
+          service_account_key: ${{ secrets.SETUP_GCLOUD_IT_KEY }}
+              
+      - name: Integration Tests
+        shell: bash
+        run: ./setup-gcloud/__tests__/integration-tests.sh
+
+                  
diff --git a/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud.yml b/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud.yml
index f401852bf..d9d2a1c94 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/setup-gcloud.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ jobs:
     name: setup-gcloud
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.operating-system }}
     strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         operating-system: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
     steps:
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/README.md b/setup-gcloud/README.md
index 5d7ca20fd..17656ad59 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/README.md
+++ b/setup-gcloud/README.md
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ steps:
 - uses: actions/checkout@v1
 - uses: GoogleCloudPlatform/github-actions/setup-gcloud@master
   with:
-      version: '275.0.0'
+      version: '278.0.0'
       service_account_email: ${{ secrets.GCP_SA_EMAIL }}
       service_account_key: ${{ secrets.GCP_SA_KEY }}
 - run: gcloud info
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ steps:
 
 ## Inputs
 
-* `version`: The version of the gcloud to be installed.  Example: `275.0.0`
+* `version`: (Optional) The version of the gcloud to be installed.  Example: `275.0.0`, Default: `latest`
 
 * `service_account_email`: (Optional) The service account email which will be used for authentication.
 
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/__tests__/install-util.test.ts b/setup-gcloud/__tests__/install-util.test.ts
index 1b08d3924..25387256a 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/__tests__/install-util.test.ts
+++ b/setup-gcloud/__tests__/install-util.test.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe('installGcloudSDK tests', () => {
   afterAll(async () => {
     await io.rmRF(toolDir);
     await io.rmRF(tempDir);
-  });
+  }, TEST_TIMEOUT_MILLIS);
 
   it(
     'Installs gcloud for current env',
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/__tests__/version-util.test.ts b/setup-gcloud/__tests__/version-util.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9756f8e04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup-gcloud/__tests__/version-util.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Google LLC
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Tests version-util.
+ */
+
+import {getLatestGcloudSDKVersion} from '../src/version-util';
+
+describe('getLatestGcloudSDKVersion test', () => {
+  it('Successfully retrieves latest version', async () => {
+    const semVerPattern = /^[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$/;
+    const result = await getLatestGcloudSDKVersion();
+    expect(result).toBeDefined();
+    expect(semVerPattern.test(result)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/action.yml b/setup-gcloud/action.yml
index a053bc6bf..5998450e0 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/action.yml
+++ b/setup-gcloud/action.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ description: 'Setup a gcloud environment and add it to the PATH'
 author: 'GoogleCloudPlatform'
 inputs:
   version:
-    description: 'The version of the gcloud SDK to be installed.  Example: 275.0.0'
-    default: '275.0.0'
+    description: 'The version of the gcloud SDK to be installed.  Example: 278.0.0'
+    default: 'latest'
     required: false
   service_account_email:
     description: 'The service account email which will be used for authentication.'
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/dist/index.js b/setup-gcloud/dist/index.js
index c3c4ddff8..db7c38fe1 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/dist/index.js
+++ b/setup-gcloud/dist/index.js
@@ -360,6 +360,15 @@ function copyFile(srcFile, destFile, force) {
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
+var __awaiter = (this && this.__awaiter) || function (thisArg, _arguments, P, generator) {
+    function adopt(value) { return value instanceof P ? value : new P(function (resolve) { resolve(value); }); }
+    return new (P || (P = Promise))(function (resolve, reject) {
+        function fulfilled(value) { try { step(generator.next(value)); } catch (e) { reject(e); } }
+        function rejected(value) { try { step(generator["throw"](value)); } catch (e) { reject(e); } }
+        function step(result) { result.done ? resolve(result.value) : adopt(result.value).then(fulfilled, rejected); }
+        step((generator = generator.apply(thisArg, _arguments || [])).next());
+    });
+};
 var __importStar = (this && this.__importStar) || function (mod) {
     if (mod && mod.__esModule) return mod;
     var result = {};
@@ -369,6 +378,8 @@ var __importStar = (this && this.__importStar) || function (mod) {
 };
 Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
 const httpm = __importStar(__webpack_require__(874));
+const attempt_1 = __webpack_require__(503);
+const install_util_1 = __webpack_require__(962);
 /**
  * Formats the gcloud SDK release URL according to the specified arguments.
  *
@@ -408,18 +419,28 @@ function formatReleaseURL(os, arch, version) {
  * @returns The verified gcloud SDK release URL.
  */
 function getReleaseURL(os, arch, version) {
-    try {
-        const url = formatReleaseURL(os, arch, version);
-        const client = new httpm.HttpClient('github-actions-setup-gcloud');
-        return client
-            .head(url)
-            .then(res => res.message.statusCode === 200
-            ? Promise.resolve(url)
-            : Promise.reject(`error code: ${res.message.statusCode}`));
-    }
-    catch (err) {
-        return Promise.reject(`Error trying to get gcloud SDK release URL: os: ${os} arch: ${arch} version: ${version}, err: ${err}`);
-    }
+    return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+        try {
+            const url = formatReleaseURL(os, arch, version);
+            const client = new httpm.HttpClient(install_util_1.GCLOUD_METRICS_LABEL);
+            return attempt_1.retry((context) => __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+                const res = yield client.head(url);
+                if (res.message.statusCode === 200) {
+                    return url;
+                }
+                else {
+                    throw new Error(`error code: ${res.message.statusCode}`);
+                }
+            }), {
+                delay: 200,
+                factor: 2,
+                maxAttempts: 4,
+            });
+        }
+        catch (err) {
+            throw new Error(`Error trying to get gcloud SDK release URL: os: ${os} arch: ${arch} version: ${version}, err: ${err}`);
+        }
+    });
 }
 exports.getReleaseURL = getReleaseURL;
 
@@ -1101,6 +1122,79 @@ function onceStrict (fn) {
 }
 
 
+/***/ }),
+
+/***/ 71:
+/***/ (function(__unusedmodule, exports, __webpack_require__) {
+
+"use strict";
+
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Google LLC
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+var __awaiter = (this && this.__awaiter) || function (thisArg, _arguments, P, generator) {
+    function adopt(value) { return value instanceof P ? value : new P(function (resolve) { resolve(value); }); }
+    return new (P || (P = Promise))(function (resolve, reject) {
+        function fulfilled(value) { try { step(generator.next(value)); } catch (e) { reject(e); } }
+        function rejected(value) { try { step(generator["throw"](value)); } catch (e) { reject(e); } }
+        function step(result) { result.done ? resolve(result.value) : adopt(result.value).then(fulfilled, rejected); }
+        step((generator = generator.apply(thisArg, _arguments || [])).next());
+    });
+};
+var __importStar = (this && this.__importStar) || function (mod) {
+    if (mod && mod.__esModule) return mod;
+    var result = {};
+    if (mod != null) for (var k in mod) if (Object.hasOwnProperty.call(mod, k)) result[k] = mod[k];
+    result["default"] = mod;
+    return result;
+};
+Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
+/**
+ * Contains version utility functions.
+ */
+const httpm = __importStar(__webpack_require__(874));
+const attempt_1 = __webpack_require__(503);
+const install_util_1 = __webpack_require__(962);
+/**
+ * @returns The latest stable version of the gcloud SDK.
+ */
+function getLatestGcloudSDKVersion() {
+    return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+        const queryUrl = 'https://dl.google.com/dl/cloudsdk/channels/rapid/components-2.json';
+        const client = new httpm.HttpClient(install_util_1.GCLOUD_METRICS_LABEL);
+        return yield attempt_1.retry((context) => __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+            const res = yield client.get(queryUrl);
+            if (res.message.statusCode != 200) {
+                throw new Error(`Failed to retrieve gcloud SDK version, HTTP error code: ${res.message.statusCode} url: ${queryUrl}`);
+            }
+            const body = yield res.readBody();
+            const responseObject = JSON.parse(body);
+            if (!responseObject.version) {
+                throw new Error(`Failed to retrieve gcloud SDK version, invalid response body: ${body}`);
+            }
+            return responseObject.version;
+        }), {
+            delay: 200,
+            factor: 2,
+            maxAttempts: 4,
+        });
+    });
+}
+exports.getLatestGcloudSDKVersion = getLatestGcloudSDKVersion;
+
+
 /***/ }),
 
 /***/ 87:
@@ -5855,6 +5949,7 @@ Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
  * Contains download utility functions.
  */
 const toolCache = __importStar(__webpack_require__(533));
+const attempt_1 = __webpack_require__(503);
 /**
  * Downloads and extracts the tool at the specified URL.
  *
@@ -5863,7 +5958,11 @@ const toolCache = __importStar(__webpack_require__(533));
  */
 function downloadAndExtractTool(url) {
     return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-        const downloadPath = yield toolCache.downloadTool(url);
+        const downloadPath = yield attempt_1.retry((context) => __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () { return toolCache.downloadTool(url); }), {
+            delay: 200,
+            factor: 2,
+            maxAttempts: 4,
+        });
         let extractedPath;
         if (url.indexOf('.zip') != -1) {
             extractedPath = yield toolCache.extractZip(downloadPath);
@@ -6977,6 +7076,158 @@ function getState(name) {
 exports.getState = getState;
 //# sourceMappingURL=core.js.map
 
+/***/ }),
+
+/***/ 503:
+/***/ (function(__unusedmodule, exports) {
+
+"use strict";
+
+Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
+function applyDefaults(options) {
+    if (!options) {
+        options = {};
+    }
+    return {
+        delay: (options.delay === undefined) ? 200 : options.delay,
+        initialDelay: (options.initialDelay === undefined) ? 0 : options.initialDelay,
+        minDelay: (options.minDelay === undefined) ? 0 : options.minDelay,
+        maxDelay: (options.maxDelay === undefined) ? 0 : options.maxDelay,
+        factor: (options.factor === undefined) ? 0 : options.factor,
+        maxAttempts: (options.maxAttempts === undefined) ? 3 : options.maxAttempts,
+        timeout: (options.timeout === undefined) ? 0 : options.timeout,
+        jitter: (options.jitter === true),
+        handleError: (options.handleError === undefined) ? null : options.handleError,
+        handleTimeout: (options.handleTimeout === undefined) ? null : options.handleTimeout,
+        beforeAttempt: (options.beforeAttempt === undefined) ? null : options.beforeAttempt,
+        calculateDelay: (options.calculateDelay === undefined) ? null : options.calculateDelay
+    };
+}
+async function sleep(delay) {
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+        setTimeout(resolve, delay);
+    });
+}
+exports.sleep = sleep;
+function defaultCalculateDelay(context, options) {
+    let delay = options.delay;
+    if (delay === 0) {
+        // no delay between attempts
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if (options.factor) {
+        delay *= Math.pow(options.factor, context.attemptNum - 1);
+        if (options.maxDelay !== 0) {
+            delay = Math.min(delay, options.maxDelay);
+        }
+    }
+    if (options.jitter) {
+        // Jitter will result in a random value between `minDelay` and
+        // calculated delay for a given attempt.
+        // See https://www.awsarchitectureblog.com/2015/03/backoff.html
+        // We're using the "full jitter" strategy.
+        const min = Math.ceil(options.minDelay);
+        const max = Math.floor(delay);
+        delay = Math.floor(Math.random() * (max - min + 1)) + min;
+    }
+    return Math.round(delay);
+}
+exports.defaultCalculateDelay = defaultCalculateDelay;
+async function retry(attemptFunc, attemptOptions) {
+    const options = applyDefaults(attemptOptions);
+    for (const prop of [
+        'delay',
+        'initialDelay',
+        'minDelay',
+        'maxDelay',
+        'maxAttempts',
+        'timeout'
+    ]) {
+        const value = options[prop];
+        if (!Number.isInteger(value) || (value < 0)) {
+            throw new Error(`Value for ${prop} must be an integer greater than or equal to 0`);
+        }
+    }
+    if ((options.factor.constructor !== Number) || (options.factor < 0)) {
+        throw new Error(`Value for factor must be a number greater than or equal to 0`);
+    }
+    if (options.delay < options.minDelay) {
+        throw new Error(`delay cannot be less than minDelay (delay: ${options.delay}, minDelay: ${options.minDelay}`);
+    }
+    const context = {
+        attemptNum: 0,
+        attemptsRemaining: options.maxAttempts ? options.maxAttempts : -1,
+        aborted: false,
+        abort() {
+            context.aborted = true;
+        }
+    };
+    const calculateDelay = options.calculateDelay || defaultCalculateDelay;
+    async function makeAttempt() {
+        if (options.beforeAttempt) {
+            options.beforeAttempt(context, options);
+        }
+        if (context.aborted) {
+            const err = new Error(`Attempt aborted`);
+            err.code = 'ATTEMPT_ABORTED';
+            throw err;
+        }
+        const onError = async (err) => {
+            if (options.handleError) {
+                options.handleError(err, context, options);
+            }
+            if (context.aborted || (context.attemptsRemaining === 0)) {
+                throw err;
+            }
+            // We are about to try again so increment attempt number
+            context.attemptNum++;
+            const delay = calculateDelay(context, options);
+            if (delay) {
+                await sleep(delay);
+            }
+            return makeAttempt();
+        };
+        if (context.attemptsRemaining > 0) {
+            context.attemptsRemaining--;
+        }
+        if (options.timeout) {
+            return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+                const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+                    if (options.handleTimeout) {
+                        resolve(options.handleTimeout(context, options));
+                    }
+                    else {
+                        const err = new Error(`Retry timeout (attemptNum: ${context.attemptNum}, timeout: ${options.timeout})`);
+                        err.code = 'ATTEMPT_TIMEOUT';
+                        reject(err);
+                    }
+                }, options.timeout);
+                attemptFunc(context, options).then((result) => {
+                    clearTimeout(timer);
+                    resolve(result);
+                }).catch((err) => {
+                    clearTimeout(timer);
+                    resolve(onError(err));
+                });
+            });
+        }
+        else {
+            // No timeout provided so wait indefinitely for the returned promise
+            // to be resolved.
+            return attemptFunc(context, options).catch(onError);
+        }
+    }
+    const initialDelay = options.calculateDelay
+        ? options.calculateDelay(context, options)
+        : options.initialDelay;
+    if (initialDelay) {
+        await sleep(initialDelay);
+    }
+    return makeAttempt();
+}
+exports.retry = retry;
+
+
 /***/ }),
 
 /***/ 533:
@@ -8288,17 +8539,18 @@ const fs_1 = __webpack_require__(747);
 const tmp = __importStar(__webpack_require__(150));
 const os = __importStar(__webpack_require__(87));
 const format_url_1 = __webpack_require__(8);
+const version_util_1 = __webpack_require__(71);
 const downloadUtil = __importStar(__webpack_require__(339));
 const installUtil = __importStar(__webpack_require__(962));
 function run() {
     return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
         try {
             tmp.setGracefulCleanup();
-            const version = core.getInput('version');
-            if (!version) {
-                throw new Error('Missing required parameter: `version`');
+            let version = core.getInput('version');
+            if (!version || version == 'latest') {
+                version = yield version_util_1.getLatestGcloudSDKVersion();
             }
-            // install the gcloud is not already present
+            // install the gcloud if not already present
             let toolPath = toolCache.find('gcloud', version);
             if (!toolPath) {
                 toolPath = yield installGcloudSDK(version);
@@ -8320,6 +8572,8 @@ function run() {
                 });
             });
             yield fs_1.promises.writeFile(tmpKeyFilePath, js_base64_1.Base64.decode(serviceAccountKey));
+            // A workaround for https://github.com/actions/toolkit/issues/229
+            // Currently exec on windows runs as cmd shell.
             let toolCommand = 'gcloud';
             if (process.platform == 'win32') {
                 toolCommand = 'gcloud.cmd';
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/package-lock.json b/setup-gcloud/package-lock.json
index 1321daead..c684a3961 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/package-lock.json
+++ b/setup-gcloud/package-lock.json
@@ -467,6 +467,11 @@
         "@types/yargs": "^13.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "@lifeomic/attempt": {
+      "version": "3.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@lifeomic/attempt/-/attempt-3.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Ibk4Vfl46dSrhtH5fHsrTA4waAuyP7/qcr3uo0mO70azRc6LWgJILlMy3B1oOvyiN9jQcdqwsThaQkPKLiYKTg=="
+    },
     "@octokit/endpoint": {
       "version": "5.5.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@octokit/endpoint/-/endpoint-5.5.0.tgz",
@@ -790,9 +795,9 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "acorn": {
-      "version": "5.7.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/acorn/-/acorn-5.7.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-T/zvzYRfbVojPWahDsE5evJdHb3oJoQfFbsrKM7w5Zcs++Tr257tia3BmMP8XYVjp1S9RZXQMh7gao96BlqZOw==",
+      "version": "7.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/acorn/-/acorn-7.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-kL5CuoXA/dgxlBbVrflsflzQ3PAas7RYZB52NOm/6839iVYJgKMJ3cQJD+t2i5+qFa8h3MDpEOJiS64E8JLnSQ==",
       "dev": true
     },
     "acorn-globals": {
@@ -4005,6 +4010,14 @@
         "whatwg-url": "^6.4.1",
         "ws": "^5.2.0",
         "xml-name-validator": "^3.0.0"
+      },
+      "dependencies": {
+        "acorn": {
+          "version": "5.7.3",
+          "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/acorn/-/acorn-5.7.3.tgz",
+          "integrity": "sha512-T/zvzYRfbVojPWahDsE5evJdHb3oJoQfFbsrKM7w5Zcs++Tr257tia3BmMP8XYVjp1S9RZXQMh7gao96BlqZOw==",
+          "dev": true
+        }
       }
     },
     "jsesc": {
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/package.json b/setup-gcloud/package.json
index ee8ba6781..17c402484 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/package.json
+++ b/setup-gcloud/package.json
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
         "@actions/github": "^1.0.0",
         "@actions/io": "^1.0.0",
         "@actions/tool-cache": "^1.0.0",
+        "@lifeomic/attempt": "^3.0.0",
         "js-base64": "2.5.1",
         "semver": "^6.1.1",
         "tmp": "0.1.0",
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@
         "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^2.6.0",
         "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^2.6.0",
         "@zeit/ncc": "^0.20.5",
+        "acorn": "^7.1.0",
+        "acorn-jsx": "^5.1.0",
         "eslint": "^6.6.0",
         "eslint-config-prettier": "^6.5.0",
         "eslint-plugin-prettier": "^3.1.1",
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/src/download-util.ts b/setup-gcloud/src/download-util.ts
index f357a29c7..4b839720a 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/src/download-util.ts
+++ b/setup-gcloud/src/download-util.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  * Contains download utility functions.
  */
 import * as toolCache from '@actions/tool-cache';
+import {retry} from '@lifeomic/attempt';
 
 /**
  * Downloads and extracts the tool at the specified URL.
@@ -26,7 +27,14 @@ import * as toolCache from '@actions/tool-cache';
  * @returns The path to the locally extracted tool.
  */
 export async function downloadAndExtractTool(url: string): Promise<string> {
-  const downloadPath = await toolCache.downloadTool(url);
+  const downloadPath = await retry(
+    async context => toolCache.downloadTool(url),
+    {
+      delay: 200,
+      factor: 2,
+      maxAttempts: 4,
+    },
+  );
   let extractedPath: string;
   if (url.indexOf('.zip') != -1) {
     extractedPath = await toolCache.extractZip(downloadPath);
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/src/format-url.ts b/setup-gcloud/src/format-url.ts
index 90aa0a443..272fcbf76 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/src/format-url.ts
+++ b/setup-gcloud/src/format-url.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  */
 
 import * as httpm from 'typed-rest-client/HttpClient';
+import {retry} from '@lifeomic/attempt';
+import {GCLOUD_METRICS_LABEL} from './install-util';
 
 /**
  * Formats the gcloud SDK release URL according to the specified arguments.
@@ -59,25 +61,31 @@ function formatReleaseURL(os: string, arch: string, version: string): string {
  * @param version The version of the requested release.
  * @returns The verified gcloud SDK release URL.
  */
-export function getReleaseURL(
+export async function getReleaseURL(
   os: string,
   arch: string,
   version: string,
 ): Promise<string> {
   try {
     const url = formatReleaseURL(os, arch, version);
-    const client: httpm.HttpClient = new httpm.HttpClient(
-      'github-actions-setup-gcloud',
+    const client = new httpm.HttpClient(GCLOUD_METRICS_LABEL);
+    return retry(
+      async context => {
+        const res = await client.head(url);
+        if (res.message.statusCode === 200) {
+          return url;
+        } else {
+          throw new Error(`error code: ${res.message.statusCode}`);
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        delay: 200,
+        factor: 2,
+        maxAttempts: 4,
+      },
     );
-    return client
-      .head(url)
-      .then(res =>
-        res.message.statusCode === 200
-          ? Promise.resolve(url)
-          : Promise.reject(`error code: ${res.message.statusCode}`),
-      );
   } catch (err) {
-    return Promise.reject(
+    throw new Error(
       `Error trying to get gcloud SDK release URL: os: ${os} arch: ${arch} version: ${version}, err: ${err}`,
     );
   }
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/src/setup-gcloud.ts b/setup-gcloud/src/setup-gcloud.ts
index ea4b9ca26..c77883bad 100644
--- a/setup-gcloud/src/setup-gcloud.ts
+++ b/setup-gcloud/src/setup-gcloud.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import path from 'path';
 import * as tmp from 'tmp';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import {getReleaseURL} from '../src/format-url';
+import {getLatestGcloudSDKVersion} from '../src/version-util';
 import * as downloadUtil from './download-util';
 import * as installUtil from './install-util';
 
@@ -30,12 +31,12 @@ async function run() {
   try {
     tmp.setGracefulCleanup();
 
-    const version = core.getInput('version');
-    if (!version) {
-      throw new Error('Missing required parameter: `version`');
+    let version = core.getInput('version');
+    if (!version || version == 'latest') {
+      version = await getLatestGcloudSDKVersion();
     }
 
-    // install the gcloud is not already present
+    // install the gcloud if not already present
     let toolPath = toolCache.find('gcloud', version);
     if (!toolPath) {
       toolPath = await installGcloudSDK(version);
diff --git a/setup-gcloud/src/version-util.ts b/setup-gcloud/src/version-util.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9493d7989
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup-gcloud/src/version-util.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Google LLC
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Contains version utility functions.
+ */
+
+import * as httpm from 'typed-rest-client/HttpClient';
+import {retry} from '@lifeomic/attempt';
+import {GCLOUD_METRICS_LABEL} from './install-util';
+
+/**
+ * @returns The latest stable version of the gcloud SDK.
+ */
+export async function getLatestGcloudSDKVersion(): Promise<string> {
+  const queryUrl =
+    'https://dl.google.com/dl/cloudsdk/channels/rapid/components-2.json';
+  const client: httpm.HttpClient = new httpm.HttpClient(GCLOUD_METRICS_LABEL);
+  return await retry(
+    async context => {
+      const res = await client.get(queryUrl);
+      if (res.message.statusCode != 200) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `Failed to retrieve gcloud SDK version, HTTP error code: ${res.message.statusCode} url: ${queryUrl}`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      const body = await res.readBody();
+      const responseObject = JSON.parse(body);
+      if (!responseObject.version) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `Failed to retrieve gcloud SDK version, invalid response body: ${body}`,
+        );
+      }
+      return responseObject.version;
+    },
+    {
+      delay: 200,
+      factor: 2,
+      maxAttempts: 4,
+    },
+  );
+}