Google Makes AI Coding Assistance Free for Everyone with Generous Limits
Gemini Code Assist could change how developers write and review code with its 180,000 completions per month and deep IDE integration. Google is now making this advanced coding tool free for everyone to use, which may lead to more bug reports and fixes. The increased adoption of AI-powered tools like Gemini Code Assist could transform the way coders work.
This shift towards more generous usage limits for AI coding assistants could accelerate the development and quality of open-source software, as well-known developers gain access to advanced tools without worrying about hitting a paywall.
What implications might this have on the broader tech industry, where competition between rival companies' AI-powered tools could be influenced by differences in their pricing strategies?
Gemini Code Assist, Google's AI coding tool, provides developers with real-time code suggestions, debugging assistance, and the ability to generate entire code blocks through natural language prompts. Launched widely in February 2025, it incorporates a free tier that allows up to 180,000 code completions monthly, positioning it as a strong competitor to established tools like GitHub Copilot. With seamless integrations into popular development environments, Gemini Code Assist aims to enhance productivity for developers at all experience levels.
The introduction of Gemini Code Assist highlights the increasing reliance on AI in software development, potentially transforming traditional coding practices and workflows.
Will the proliferation of AI coding assistants ultimately lead to a devaluation of human coding skills in the tech industry?
Google has updated its AI assistant Gemini with two significant features that enhance its capabilities and bring it closer to rival ChatGPT. The "Screenshare" feature allows Gemini to do live screen analysis and answer questions in the context of what it sees, while the new "Gemini Live" feature enables real-time video analysis through the phone's camera. These updates demonstrate Google's commitment to innovation and its quest to remain competitive in the AI assistant market.
The integration of these features into Gemini highlights the growing trend of multimodal AI assistants that can process various inputs and provide more human-like interactions, raising questions about the future of voice-based interfaces.
Will the release of these features on the Google One AI Premium plan lead to a significant increase in user adoption and engagement with Gemini?
Google is upgrading its AI capabilities for all users through its Gemini chatbot, including the ability to remember user preferences and interests. The feature, previously exclusive to paid users, allows Gemini to see the world around it, making it more conversational and context-aware. This upgrade aims to make Gemini a more engaging and personalized experience for all users.
As AI-powered chatbots become increasingly ubiquitous in our daily lives, how can we ensure that they are designed with transparency, accountability, and human values at their core?
Will the increasing capabilities of AI like Gemini's be enough to alleviate concerns about job displacement and economic disruption caused by automation?
Gemini AI is making its way to Android Auto, although the feature is not yet widely accessible, as Google continues to integrate the AI across its platforms. Early testing revealed that while Gemini can handle routine tasks and casual conversation, its navigation and location-based responses are lacking, indicating that further refinement is necessary before the official rollout. As the development progresses, it remains to be seen how Gemini will enhance the driving experience compared to its predecessor, Google Assistant.
The initial shortcomings in Gemini’s functionality highlight the challenges tech companies face in creating reliable AI solutions that seamlessly integrate into everyday applications, especially in high-stakes environments like driving.
What specific features do users hope to see improved in Gemini to make it a truly indispensable tool for drivers?
Google has introduced a memory feature to the free version of its AI chatbot, Gemini, allowing users to store personal information for more engaging and personalized interactions. This update, which follows the feature's earlier release for Gemini Advanced subscribers, enhances the chatbot's usability, making conversations feel more natural and fluid. While Google is behind competitors like ChatGPT in rolling out this feature, the swift availability for all users could significantly elevate the user experience.
This development reflects a growing recognition of the importance of personalized AI interactions, which may redefine user expectations and engagement with digital assistants.
How will the introduction of memory features in AI chatbots influence user trust and reliance on technology for everyday tasks?
ChatGPT, OpenAI's AI-powered chatbot platform, can now directly edit code — if you're on macOS, that is. The newest version of the ChatGPT app for macOS can take action to edit code in supported developer tools, including Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains. Users can optionally turn on an “auto-apply” mode so ChatGPT can make edits without the need for additional clicks.
As AI-powered coding assistants like ChatGPT become increasingly sophisticated, it raises questions about the future of human roles in software development and whether these tools will augment or replace traditional developers.
How will the widespread adoption of AI coding assistants impact the industry's approach to bug fixing, security, and intellectual property rights in the context of open-source codebases?
Google is expanding its AI assistant, Gemini, with new features that allow users to ask questions using video content in real-time. At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Google showcased a "Screenshare" feature that enables users to share what's on their phone's screen with Gemini and get answers about it as they watch. This development marks another step in the evolution of AI-powered conversational interfaces.
As AI assistants like Gemini become more prevalent, it raises fundamental questions about the role of human curation and oversight in the content shared with these systems.
How will users navigate the complexities of interacting with an AI assistant that is simultaneously asking for clarification and attempting to provide assistance?
Gemini, Google’s AI-powered chatbot, has introduced new lock screen widgets and shortcuts for Apple devices, making it easier to access the assistant even when your phone is locked. The six new lock screen widgets provide instant access to different Gemini functions, such as voice input, image recognition, and file analysis. This update aims to make Gemini feel more integrated into daily life on iPhone.
The proliferation of AI-powered assistants like Google Gemini underscores a broader trend towards making technology increasingly ubiquitous in our personal lives.
How will the ongoing development of AI assistants impact our expectations for seamless interactions with digital devices, potentially redefining what we consider "intelligent" technology?
Google is giving its Sheets software a Gemini-powered upgrade that is designed to help users analyze data faster and turn spreadsheets into charts using AI. With this update, users can access Gemini's capabilities to generate insights from their data, such as correlations, trends, outliers, and more. Users now can also generate advanced visualizations, like heatmaps, that they can insert as static images over cells in spreadsheets.
The integration of AI-powered tools in Sheets has the potential to revolutionize the way businesses analyze and present data, potentially reducing manual errors and increasing productivity.
How will this upgrade impact small business owners and solo entrepreneurs who rely on Google Sheets for their operations, particularly those without extensive technical expertise?
Users looking to revert from Google's Gemini AI chatbot back to the traditional Google Assistant can do so easily through the app's settings. While Gemini offers a more conversational experience, some users prefer the straightforward utility of Google Assistant for quick queries and tasks. This transition highlights the ongoing evolution in AI assistant technologies and the varying preferences among users for simplicity versus advanced interaction.
The choice between Gemini and Google Assistant reflects broader consumer desires for personalized technology experiences, raising questions about how companies will continue to balance innovation with user familiarity.
As AI assistants evolve, how will companies ensure that advancements meet the diverse needs and preferences of their users without alienating those who prefer more traditional functionalities?
Gemini can now add events to your calendar, give you event details, and help you find an event you've forgotten about. The feature allows users to ask voice commands or type in prompts to interact with Gemini, which then provides relevant information. By leveraging AI-powered search, Gemini helps users quickly access their schedule without manual searching.
This integration marks a significant step forward for Google's AI-powered assistant, as it begins to blur the lines between virtual assistants and productivity tools.
How will this new capability impact the way people manage their time and prioritize appointments in the coming years?
Google has informed Australian authorities it received more than 250 complaints globally over nearly a year that its artificial intelligence software was used to make deepfake terrorism material, highlighting the growing concern about AI-generated harm. The tech giant also reported dozens of user reports warning about its AI program Gemini being used to create child abuse material. The disclosures underscore the need for better guardrails around AI technology to prevent such misuse.
As the use of AI-generated content becomes increasingly prevalent, it is crucial for companies and regulators to develop effective safeguards that can detect and mitigate such harm before it spreads.
How will governments balance the need for innovation with the requirement to ensure that powerful technologies like AI are not used to facilitate hate speech or extremist ideologies?
Google has announced an expansion of its AI search features, powered by Gemini 2.0, which marks a significant shift towards more autonomous and personalized search results. The company is testing an opt-in feature called AI Mode, where the results are completely taken over by the Gemini model, skipping traditional web links. This move could fundamentally change how Google presents search results in the future.
As Google increasingly relies on AI to provide answers, it raises important questions about the role of human judgment and oversight in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of search results.
How will this new paradigm impact users' trust in search engines, particularly when traditional sources are no longer visible alongside AI-generated content?
Google is giving Sheets a Gemini-powered upgrade that is designed to help users analyze data faster and turn spreadsheets into charts using AI. With this update, users can access Gemini’s capabilities to generate insights from their data, such as correlations, trends, outliers, and more. Users now can also generate advanced visualizations, like heatmaps, that they can insert as static images over cells in spreadsheets.
This upgrade highlights the growing importance of artificial intelligence in democratizing data analysis, enabling non-experts to uncover valuable insights from their own data.
Will this technology be accessible to individual consumers, or will it remain a feature primarily available to business users with more advanced spreadsheet needs?
Adjusting settings in the Gemini app can significantly enhance user privacy by limiting data access and usage. Key recommendations include disabling extensions that allow access to Google Drive and smart devices, turning off AI training features, and avoiding discussions of sensitive topics in public. These practical steps empower users to take control of their personal information while utilizing Gemini's capabilities on their Android devices.
These tweaks reflect a growing awareness among users regarding data privacy, highlighting the need for transparency in AI interactions and data handling practices.
What further measures can users adopt to safeguard their privacy as AI technologies become increasingly integrated into daily life?
ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for writing code, particularly when given clear and specific prompts, yet it also has limitations that can lead to unusable output if not carefully managed. The AI excels at assisting with smaller coding tasks and finding appropriate libraries, but it often struggles with generating complete applications and maintaining existing code. Engaging in an interactive dialogue with the AI can help refine requests and improve the quality of the generated code.
This highlights the importance of human oversight in the coding process, underscoring that while AI can assist, it cannot replace the nuanced decision-making and experience of a skilled programmer.
In what ways might the evolution of AI coding tools reshape the job landscape for entry-level programmers in the next decade?
Google has added a suite of lockscreen widgets to its Gemini app for iOS and iPadOS, allowing users to quickly access various features and functions from the AI assistant's latest update. The widgets, which include text prompts, Gemini Live, and other features, are designed to make it easier and faster to interact with the AI assistant on iPhone. By adding these widgets, Google aims to lure iPhone and iPad users away from Siri or get people using Gemini instead of OpenAI's ChatGPT.
This strategic move by Google highlights the importance of user experience and accessibility in the AI-powered virtual assistant space, where seamless interactions can make all the difference in adoption rates.
As Apple continues to develop a new, smarter Siri, how will its approach to integrating voice assistants with AI-driven features impact the competitive landscape of the industry?
Google Gemini stands out as the most data-hungry service, collecting 22 of these data types, including highly sensitive data like precise location, user content, the device's contacts list, browsing history, and more. The analysis also found that 30% of the analyzed chatbots share user data with third parties, potentially leading to targeted advertising or spam calls. DeepSeek, while not the worst offender, collects only 11 unique types of data, including user input like chat history, raising concerns under GDPR rules.
This raises a critical question: as AI chatbot apps become increasingly omnipresent in our daily lives, how will we strike a balance between convenience and personal data protection?
What regulations or industry standards need to be put in place to ensure that the growing number of AI-powered chatbots prioritize user privacy above corporate interests?
Google Gemini users can now access the AI chatbot directly from the iPhone's lock screen, thanks to an update released on Monday first spotted by 9to5Google. This feature allows users to seamlessly interact with Google's relatively real-time voice assistant, Gemini Live, without having to unlock their phone. The addition of new widgets and features within the Gemini app further blurs the lines between AI-powered assistants and traditional smartphones.
As competitors like OpenAI step in to supply iPhone users with AI assistants of their own, it raises interesting questions about the future of AI on mobile devices: Will we see a fragmentation of AI ecosystems, or will one platform emerge as the standard for voice interactions?
How might this trend impact the development of more sophisticated and integrated AI capabilities within smartphones, potentially paving the way for entirely new user experiences?
Gemini Live, Google's conversational AI, is set to gain a significant upgrade with the arrival of live video capabilities in just a few weeks. The feature will enable users to show the robot something instead of telling it, marking a major milestone in the development of multimodal AI. With this update, Gemini Live will be able to process and understand live video and screen sharing, allowing for more natural and interactive conversations.
This development highlights the growing importance of visual intelligence in AI systems, as they become increasingly capable of processing and understanding human visual cues.
How will the integration of live video capabilities with other Google AI features, such as search and content recommendation, impact the overall user experience and potential applications?
Salesforce's research suggests that nearly all (96%) developers from a global survey are enthusiastic about AI’s positive impact on their careers, with many highlighting how AI agents could help them advance in their jobs. Developers are excited to use AI, citing improvements in efficiency, quality, and problem-solving as key benefits. The technology is being seen as essential as traditional software tools by four-fifths of UK and Ireland developers.
As AI agents become increasingly integral to programming workflows, it's clear that the industry needs to prioritize data management and governance to avoid perpetuating existing power imbalances.
Can we expect the growing adoption of agentic AI to lead to a reevaluation of traditional notions of intellectual property and ownership in the software development field?
Google is reportedly set to introduce a new AI assistant called Pixel Sense with the Pixel 10, abandoning its previous assistant, Gemini, amidst ongoing challenges in creating a reliable assistant experience. Pixel Sense aims to provide a more personalized interaction by utilizing data across various applications on the device while ensuring user privacy through on-device processing. This shift represents a significant evolution in Google's approach to AI, potentially enhancing the functionality of Pixel phones and distinguishing them in a crowded market.
The development of Pixel Sense highlights the increasing importance of user privacy and personalized technology, suggesting a potential shift in consumer expectations for digital assistants.
Will Google's focus on on-device processing and privacy give Pixel Sense a competitive edge over other AI assistants in the long run?
Google's AI-powered Gemini appears to struggle with certain politically sensitive topics, often saying it "can't help with responses on elections and political figures right now." This conservative approach sets Google apart from its rivals, who have tweaked their chatbots to discuss sensitive subjects in recent months. Despite announcing temporary restrictions for election-related queries, Google hasn't updated its policies, leaving Gemini sometimes struggling or refusing to deliver factual information.
The tech industry's cautious response to handling sensitive topics like politics and elections raises questions about the role of censorship in AI development and the potential consequences of inadvertently perpetuating biases.
Will Google's approach to handling politically charged topics be a model for other companies, and what implications will this have for public discourse and the dissemination of information?
Google has been aggressively pursuing the development of its generative AI capabilities, despite struggling with significant setbacks, including the highly publicized launch of Bard in early 2023. The company's single-minded focus on adding AI to all its products has led to rapid progress in certain areas, such as language models and image recognition. However, the true potential of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) remains uncertain, with even CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledging the challenges ahead.
By pushing employees to work longer hours, Google may inadvertently be creating a culture where the boundaries between work and life become increasingly blurred, potentially leading to burnout and decreased productivity.
Can a company truly create AGI without also confronting the deeper societal implications of creating machines that can think and act like humans, and what would be the consequences of such advancements on our world?
Google's AI Mode offers reasoning and follow-up responses in search, synthesizing information from multiple sources unlike traditional search. The new experimental feature uses Gemini 2.0 to provide faster, more detailed, and capable of handling trickier queries. AI Mode aims to bring better reasoning and more immediate analysis to online time, actively breaking down complex topics and comparing multiple options.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in our online searches, it's crucial to consider the implications for the quality and diversity of information available to us, particularly when relying on algorithm-driven recommendations.
Will the growing reliance on AI-powered search assistants like Google's AI Mode lead to a homogenization of perspectives, reducing the value of nuanced, human-curated content?