Gemini Code Assist Gains Agentic Abilities - Google AI Update
Gemini Code Assist Receives Agentic Upgrades
Gemini Code Assist, Google's AI-powered coding companion, is currently undergoing enhancements with the introduction of new “agentic” functionalities, available in preview.
Announced during the Cloud Next conference on Wednesday, Google detailed that Code Assist now features the ability to utilize AI “agents” capable of handling intricate programming assignments through a series of sequential actions.
New Capabilities of Code Assist Agents
These agents can, for instance, construct applications directly from project outlines detailed in Google Docs. Alternatively, they can facilitate code conversions between different programming languages.
The availability of Code Assist has been expanded to include Android Studio, alongside its existing support in other integrated development environments.
Competitive Landscape and Market Growth
These improvements to Code Assist are likely a direct response to increasing competition from other AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Cognition Labs’ Devin.
The market for AI coding tools is rapidly expanding, attracting significant investment due to its potential to dramatically improve developer productivity.
Agent Management and Task Execution
Code Assist’s agents are managed through a newly implemented Gemini Code Assist Kanban board. This allows for the creation of detailed work plans and the tracking of progress on assigned tasks.
Beyond software creation and code migration, these agents can also be utilized for implementing new application features, conducting code reviews, and automatically generating unit tests and documentation, according to Google.
Potential Limitations and Considerations
The actual performance capabilities of Code Assist remain to be fully evaluated. Current research indicates that even advanced code-generating AI can introduce security flaws and bugs.
This is often attributed to limitations in the AI’s ability to fully grasp complex programming logic. A recent assessment of Devin revealed successful completion of only three out of twenty tasks.
Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly review any code generated or modified by Code Assist to ensure its quality and security.
