- Gemini is now a native macOS app, so you can use Google’s AI chatbot directly from your desktop without opening a browser
- The app lets you share your screen, access local files, and launch instantly with a new Option + Space shortcut
- It also supports AI image generation and video creation, with extra features unlocked via Google’s AI Pro and Ultra plans
Google has just released a native Gemini app for the Mac, so its AI chatbot is now available right on your macOS desktop with no need to launch a browser just to use it.
The new native app means Gemini now joins both Claude and ChatGPT, which already have macOS apps on the Mac App Store. Gemini is free to use, but while the free limits are quite generous, especially for image generation, you’ll need to subscribe to Google’s AI Pro or Ultra packages if you need more access.
What it can do — more integrated than ever before
Using Gemini as an app offers several key advantages for Mac users over using it in a browser. For a start, you can now share anything on your screen with Gemini, including local files, and get help with exactly what you’re looking at.
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For example, if you are reviewing a complex document, you can simply share your window and ask, ‘What are the three biggest takeaways here?’ and it will give you an answer based on what’s on your screen.
There’s also a new keyboard shortcut — Option + Space — that you can use to instantly bring up Gemini. It’s a much faster way to access the chatbot without switching tabs or digging through open windows.
Nano Banana image generation included
Gemini offers strong image creation abilities with Google’s Nano Banana image generation engine, and it can also create AI-generated videos thanks to Google’s Veo 3.1 being built in.
You can download the new Gemini app now from the Mac App Store, where it’s available to all users aged over 13 years, or from Google. A Google account and macOS 15 or greater is required.
Google says this first release of Gemini as an app is just the beginning, adding, “We’re building the foundation for a truly personal, proactive, and powerful desktop assistant, with more news to share in the coming months.”
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