Google's Opal, a tool for creating AI-powered mini applications through natural language, is now being integrated into the Gemini platform. The company announced on Wednesday that this feature will be accessible directly within the Gemini web application, enabling users to develop their own custom apps, referred to by Google as Gems.

First introduced in 2024, Gems are specialized versions of Gemini tailored for particular functions or use cases. Examples of Google's own pre-built Gems include a learning coach, a brainstorming assistant, a career guide, a coding partner, and an editor. In contrast, Opal is designed to assist users in building new mini-apps or combining existing ones.

To create an app, users simply describe their idea in everyday language. Opal then utilizes various Gemini AI models to construct the application based on that description. The tool is now directly available within the Gemini web interface through the Gems manager.

Opal features a visual editor that outlines the necessary steps for building an application. Users can rearrange and connect these steps without writing any code. Google highlights that this editor includes a new view within Gemini which transforms a user's written prompts into a structured list of steps, simplifying the app-building process and making the workflow clearer.

For those seeking more advanced customization, users can transition from Gemini to the Advanced Editor available at opal.google.com. Once created, these mini-apps can be saved and reused.

This approach, often called "vibe-coding," uses artificial intelligence to program and develop applications, a method that has seen explosive growth in popularity over the last two years. The market now includes applications from startups such as Lovable and Cursor, alongside offerings from major AI providers like Anthropic and OpenAI. There are also tools more directly aimed at consumers, including those from the AI-powered app-building startup Wabi.

The Gemini web application is accessible at gemini.google.com.