Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is launching an artificial intelligence coding assistant aimed at simplifying tasks for developers, setting its sights on competitors like OpenAI’s Codex and Anthropic’s Claude Code.
The Gemini CLI, which stands for “command line interface,” is being rolled out globally, as announced by the tech giant on Wednesday. This tool is crafted to streamline the intricacies of traditional programming interfaces, allowing developers to interact with AI using plain language.
“With Gemini CLI, you can engage in a natural language dialogue with your computer to tackle issues, integrate complex workflows, and achieve far more than ever before,” stated Taylor Mullen, a senior staff software engineer at Google, during a press briefing prior to the announcement.
This AI agent gives developers access to Google’s Gemini AI software directly from the terminal, the text-based interface where commands are entered to manage the computer. While primarily designed as an AI coding assistant, Gemini CLI can also be employed for various tasks, including video generation and basic website setups, according to Google.
Gemini CLI is open source, meaning its code is available for modification and redistribution. Google aims to democratize AI coding through this tool, continually enhancing it with user feedback. Developers can examine the code to understand its functionality and ensure its security, Google noted.
The company’s TensorFlow AI engine is also open source, along with several AI models derived from its transformer technology, which forms the foundation of today’s most prevalent large language models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
In 2024, Google unveiled a set of open large language models named Gemma, shifting its previous approach of keeping proprietary AI technology under wraps. The recent announcement indicates a renewed dedication to engaging with external developers more proactively.
Access to Gemini CLI is available to any personal Google account holder, who will receive a complimentary Gemini Code Assist license. This license permits access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, the company’s premier model, as well as what Google claims is the largest prompt allowance in the industry — the queries that activate the AI.
Users can submit 60 requests per minute and up to 1,000 requests daily. Opting for a standard subscription raises the limit to 120 requests per minute and 1,500 daily, while the enterprise version of Gemini CLI allows for up to 2,000 daily queries.
“We believe that these tools will revolutionize how not only developers but all creators work in the coming decade,” remarked Ryan J. Salva, a senior product director at Google. “Regardless of whether you’re a student, hobbyist, freelancer, or developer, access to the same tools should be universal.”
