Gradle 4.1 issue on latest android studio 3.0.1

check your tools version, it should be 3.0.1

buildscript {
    repositories {
        google()
        jcenter()
    }
    dependencies {
        classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.0.1'
    }
}

please note that google() repository is important. the newer plugin is posted there.