Imagine asking an artificial intelligence model to untangle confusing code or even whip up entirely new features while you work, and getting an answer right from your terminal.
That is exactly what Google is hoping developers will do with Gemini CLI, its new AI assistant that connects directly to the popular Gemini models.
Developers can now use natural language to tell the tool what they want, like asking for explanations of complex logic, help with debugging, or even running commands in a local project.
Gemini CLI expands Google’s growing set of AI tools tailored for coders. These include Gemini Code Assist and the asynchronous coding helper known as Jules.
Yet this latest tool is aimed squarely at developers who prefer to keep their work close to the command line, bringing Google into direct competition with rivals that offer similar experiences.
OpenAI’s Codex CLI and Anthropic’s Claude Code have both carved out strong followings in this space for their simplicity and speed, so Google’s move is turning up the pressure in an already heated race.
Broader Horizons for Developers
While Gemini CLI’s main use is coding, Google also designed it for more adventurous tasks.
Users will discover that it can create videos using the Veo 3 model, draft research reports with the Deep Research agent, and pull in the latest updates via Google Search.
Another standout feature is its ability to connect to MCP servers, letting developers tie into outside databases easily.
One major factor that could grow adoption is Google’s decision to open the project to the public under the Apache 2.0 license — widely recognized for its leniency and encouragement of collaborative work.
‘We’re excited to see how the developer community will build on and contribute to Gemini CLI,’ a Google spokesperson shared.
Along with open access, Google is giving users robust free tier limits.
Developers get up to 1,000 requests per day, which Google says is roughly twice what most have needed so far.
Despite the excitement surrounding AI coding assistants, many developers remain cautious.
A Stack Overflow survey found that only 43 percent of respondents trust these tools for accuracy, a reminder that mistakes or security slips can still sneak through when relying on automated code.
AI in software development is moving fast, and Gemini CLI is Google’s latest effort to keep pace with—and shape—the way people build technology.
