
Gemini Code Assist, Google’s AI Coding Assistant, Gets ‘Agentic’ Abilities
During its Cloud Next conference yesterday, Google announced that its AI coding assistant, Gemini Code Assist, is gaining new “agentic” capabilities. These enhancements enable the tool to deploy AI “agents” that can take multiple steps to accomplish complex programming tasks.
The updated Code Assist now allows users to create applications from product specifications in Google Docs or perform code transformations from one language to another, among other abilities. This expansion of capabilities is likely a response to growing competitive pressure from rivals such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Cognition Labs, the creator of the popular programming tool Devin.
The AI coding assistant market has been intensifying rapidly, with significant investments pouring in from major players. As you would expect, this frenzy is driven by the immense productivity-boosting potential of these tools. The massive influx of funds only serves to heighten the stakes for Google and its competitors.
The new “agents” within Code Assist can be managed through a dedicated Kanban board, allowing users to monitor work plans and progress on job requests in real-time. This development has sparked concerns about security vulnerabilities and bugs that AI-generated code may introduce. Research studies have consistently shown that even the best AI code-generating tools struggle with comprehending programming logic, often leading to insecure or faulty output.
For this reason, it’s crucial for users to carefully review generated code before deploying it in production environments. Despite its limitations, Code Assist remains an essential tool for developers and programmers seeking to accelerate their workflow.
Code Assist is now available in Android Studio alongside other coding environments, further solidifying Google’s commitment to the development of innovative AI-powered tools for the tech industry.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/09/gemini-code-assist-googles-ai-coding-assistant-gets-agentic-upgrades/