Google Launches Gemini CLI: A New Open-Source AI Agent for Developers

Google has launched a new open-source AI agent named Gemini CLI, designed to integrate Gemini’s coding, content generation, and research capabilities directly into developers’ terminals. According to Google, Gemini CLI provides a “fundamental upgrade to your command line experience,” simplifying the process for developers to write and debug code using natural language prompts.

“It provides lightweight access to Gemini, giving you the most direct path from your prompt to our model,” Google said in its announcement. “While it excels at coding, we built Gemini CLI to do so much more. It’s a versatile, local utility you can use for a wide range of tasks, from content generation and problem solving to deep research and task management.”

Key Features of Gemini CLI

Gemini CLI utilizes advanced AI technology, currently supporting a 1 million token context window, which refers to the amount of information that an AI model can process at one time. Google states that the Gemini CLI agent is integrated with Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro reasoning model, includes built-in Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Google Search support, and allows developers to generate images and video using its Veo and Imagen AI tools.

Availability and Usage

Gemini CLI is available for developers to preview starting today. It is currently free to use through a Gemini Code Assist license, which can be obtained via a personal Google account. This license provides Gemini CLI users with a generous usage limit of 60 model requests per minute and 1,000 requests per day, which Google claims is the “largest allowance” offered across the industry.

Future Considerations

As of now, Google has not disclosed whether there will be options available for users who exceed these usage limits or if the AI agent will remain free when it becomes fully available. This generous allowance could give Gemini CLI a competitive edge over other AI coding options, such as Anthropic’s Claude, GitHub Copilot, or even Microsoft’s similar AI chatbot inside Windows Terminal.

In conclusion, Google’s Gemini CLI represents a significant advancement in the integration of AI within developer tools, promising to enhance productivity and streamline workflows in coding and content generation.